





* *^ "^^ 



.* 0* 





























• ^^'\ 






^^. .- 



.' .^^'''«> 



^''•%.. .- 



• t? 

















• ^oV^ 













"^^^ '-■©IS'*' ^'^^^ l^P'** /\, .^ 





















THE CLIMBERS 



■y^y^ 



The Climbers 



A PLAY IN FOUR ACTS 



By 
CLYDE FITCH 



THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 

NEfV rORK MCMVI 
LONDON: MACMILLAN & CO., Ltd. 



1/ 



LIBRARY of CONGRESS 
Two Copies Received 

I DEC 26 1905 
i Cooygirht Entry 

CLASS K^ XXc. No, 
/ s/oPT B. 



^€? 



Vi> 



A 



A 






Copyright, 1905, 
By the MACMILLAN COMPANY. 

All rights reserved. 



Set up and electrotyped. Published December, 1905. 



O/^to 



All acting rights, both professional and amateur, are reserved by Clyde 
Fitch. Performances forbidden and right of representation reserved. 
Application for the right of performing this piece must be made to The 
Macmillan Company. Any piracy or infringement will be prosecuted 
in accordance with the penalties provided by the United States Stat- 
utes: — 

"Sec. 4966. — Any person publicly performing or representing any 
dramatic or musical composition, for which copyright has been obtained, 
without the consent of the proprietor of the said dramatic or musical 
composition, or his heirs or assigns, shall be liable for damages therefor, 
such damages in all cases to be assessed at such sum, not less than one 
hundred dollars for the first and fifty dollars for every subsequent per- 
formance, as to the Court shall appear to be just. If the unlawful per- 
formance and representation be wilful and for profit, such person or 
persons shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction be im- 
prisoned for a period not exceeding one year." — U. S. Revised 
Statutes, Title 60, Chap. 3. 



XorbiootJ $rtss 

J. S. Cashing & Co. — Berwick & Smith Co. 

Norwood, Mass., U.S.A. 



TO 
CHARLES T. MATHEWS 

IN GRATEFUL RECOGNITION OF HIS 
TRUE FRIENDSHIP AND LOYAL EN- 
THUSIASM FROM THE BEGINNING 

C. F. 

1905 



THE CLIMBERS 



ACT I. In Late Winter. 

Ai the Hunters\ 

ACT II. The Following Christmas Eve. 

At the Sterlings'. 

ACT III. Christmas Day. 

At the Hermitage, by the Bronx River, 

ACT IV. The Day after Christmas. , 

At the Sterlings'. 

New York: To-day 



THE PEOPLE IN THE PLAY 



Richard Sterling. 
Edward Warden. 
Frederick Mason. 
Johnny Trotter. 

GODESBY. 

Dr. Steinart. 

Ryder. 

Servant at the Hermitage. 

Jordan. Butler at the Sterlings'. 

Leonard. Footman at the Sterlings'. 

Master Sterling. 

Servants. 

Mrs. Sterling {nee Blanche Hunter). 

Miss Hunter. 

Mrs. Hunter. 

Jessica Hunter. 

Clara Hunter. 

Miss Godesby. 

Miss Sillerton. 

TOMPSON. Mrs. Hunter^s Maid. 

Marie. Clara Hunter's Maid . 



Originally produced at the Bijou Theatre, New 
York, January 2 1 , 1 901, with the following cast: — 

Richard Sterling Mr. Frank Worthing 

Edward Warden Mr. Robert Edeson 

Frederick Mason Mr. John Flood 

Johnny Trotter Mr. Ferdinand Gottschalk 

Dr. Steinart Mr. George C. Boniface 

Godesby •. Mr. J. B. Sturges 

Ryder Mr. Kinard 

Servant at the Hermitage .... Mr. Henry Warwick 
Jordan "I . . Servants . ( Mr. Edward Moreland 
Leonard f • • ^^ the . j Mr. Henry Stokes 
A Footman J . . Hunters' . I Mr. Frederick Wallace 
Richard Sterling, Jr Master Harry Wright 

Mrs. Hunter Mrs. Madge Carr Cook 

Mrs. Sterling (nee Blanche Hunter) Miss Amelia Bingham 

Jessica Hunter Miss Maud Monroe 

Clara Hunter Miss Minnie Dupree 

Miss Hunter Miss Annie Irish 

Miss Godesby Miss Clara Bloodgood 

Miss Sillerton Miss Ysobel Haskins 

Tompson ) . . Maids at . ( Miss Lillian Eldredge 
Marie ) . . the Hunters' . ( Miss Florence Lloyd 



II 



Produced at the Comedy Theatre, London, 
September 5, 1903, with the following cast: — 

Richard Sterling Mr. Sydney Valentine 

Edward Warden Mr. Reeves-Smith 

Frederick Mason Mr. J. L. Mackay 

Johnny Trotter Mr. G. M. Graham 

Godesby Mr. Horace Pollock 

Dr. Steinart Mr. Howard Sturges 

Master Sterling Miss Maidie Andrews 

Ryder Mr. Henry Howard 

Jordan Mr. Elgar B. Payne 

Leonard Mr. Littledale Power 

Footman Mr. Rivers Bertram 

Servant Mr. George Aubrey 

Mrs. Sterling Miss Lily Hanbury 

Miss Hunter . . . , Miss Kate Tyndall 

Mrs. Hunter Miss Lottie Venne 

Jessica Hunter Miss Alma Mara 

Clara Hunter Mrs. Mouillot 

Miss Sillerton Miss Florence Sinclair 

Tompson Miss L. Crauford 

Marie Miss Armstrong 

Miss Godesby Miss Fannie Ward 



ACT I 

A drawing-room at the Hunter s\ handsomely and 
artistically furnished. The woodwork and 
furniture are in the period oj Louis XVI. 
The walls and furniture are covered with 
yellow brocade, and the curtains are oj the 
same golden material. At the hack are two 
large windows which give out on Fifth Avenue, 
opposite the Park, the trees of which are seen 
across the way. At Left is a double doorway, 
leading into the hall. At Right, opposite, is a 
door which leads to other rooms, and thence to 
other parts of the house. In the centre, at back, 
between the two windows, is the fireplace; on the 
mantel are two vases and a clock in dark blue 
15 



1 6 THE CLIMBERS 

ormolu. There is a white and gold piano on 
the Right side oj the room. The room suggests 
much wealth, and that it Jias been done by a 
professional decorator; the personal note of taste 
is lacking. 

It is four o'clock in the afternoon. The shades of 
the windows are drawn down. There are rows 
and roivs of camp-chairs filling the entire room. 

The curtain rises slowly. After a moment, 
Jordan, the butler, and Leonard, a foot- 
man, enter from the Left and begin to gather 
together and carry out the camp-chairs. They 
do this with very serious faces, and take great 
pains to step softly and to make no noise. They 
enter a second time for more chairs. 

Jordan. [Whispers to Leonard.] When are 
they coming for the chairs? 



k 



THE CLIMBERS 17 

Leonard. [Whispers back.] To-night. Say, it 
was fine, wasn't it ! 
Jordan. Grand ! 

[They go out with the chairs and immediately 
reenter for more. They are followed in this 
time by a lady^s maid, Tompson ; she is not a 
young woman. As she crosses the room she 
stoops and picks up a faded flower which has 
fallen from some emblem. She goes to the 
window at Right, and peeps out. She turns 
around and looks at the others. They all 
speak in subdued voices, 
Tompson. Jordan, what do you think — can 
we raise the shades now? 

Jordan. Yes, of course — after they've left 
the house it's all over as far as we here are con- 
cerned. 

[She raises both shades. 
c 



l8 THE CLIMBERS 

ToMPSON. Phew! what an odor of flowers! 

\She opens one of the windows a little. 

[Marie, a young, pretty, French woman, enters 
from the Right. 

Marie. Will I help you? 

ToMPSON. Just with this table, thank you, 
Marie. [They begin to rearrange the room, put- 
ting it in its normal condition. They replace the 
table and put back the ornaments upon it.] Poor 
Mr. Hunter, and him so fond of mince pie. I 
shall never forget how that man ate mince pie. 

[She sighs lugubriously and continues her labor 
with the room. 

Leonard. I hope as how it's not going to make 
any difference with us. 

Jordan. [Pompously.] Of course not; wasn't 
Mr. Hunter a milHonnaire? 

ToMPSON. Some milHonnaires I've known 



THE CLIMBERS 19 

turned out poor as Job's turkey in their 
coffins ! 

Marie. What you say? You tink we shall 
'ave some of madame's or ze young ladies ' dresses ? 
ToMPSON. [Hopejtdly.] Perhaps. 
Marie. I 'ave already made my choice. I 
like ze pale pink of Mees Jessie. 

Leonard. Sh! I heard a carridge. 
ToMPSON. Then they're coming back. 

[Marie quickly goes out Right. 
Jordan. [To Leonard, hurriedly, as he quickly 
goes out Left.] Take them last two chairs! 
[Leonard, with the chairs , follows Jordan out 
Lejt. ToMPSON hastily puts hack a last arm- 
chair to its usual position in the room and goes 
out Right. Mrs. Hunter enters Left, followed 
by her three daughters, Blanche, Jessica, 
and Clara, and Master Sterling, who is 



ao THE CLIMBERS 

a small, attractii'e cJiilJ, jivc years of age. 
All are in the deepest conventional mournings 
Mrs. HrxTF.R /;; iL'iihKc's zceeds utd Clara 
wiih a heavy, black chifjon I'cil : Jie Boy is 
also dressed in canvefUionaJ mourning. As soon 
as tJ:ey enter, all four women lift their veils. 
Mrs. Hunter /V a well -preserved woman, with 
a pretty, rather foolish, and sotneivhat querulous 
face. Her jigiire is the latest mode. Blanche 
Sterling. Jier oldest daughter, is her antithesisy 
— a handsopne, dignified woman, young, sincerey 
and showing, in her attitude to the others and 
in her oic*n point of view, the warmth of a 
truty evenly-balanced nature. Jessica is a 
typical second child, — nice, good, self-effacingy 
syfft pathetic, unspiyiled. Clara ;V her oppo- 
site, — spoiled, petulant, pretty, pert, and 
selfish. 



THE CLIMBERS 2i 

Mrs. Hunter. \With a long sigh.] Oh, I am so 
glad to be back home and the whole thing over 
without a hitch! 

[She sinks with a great sigh of relief into a big 
chair. 

Blanche. [Takes her son to Mrs. Hunter.] 
Kiss grandmother good-by, and then Leonard 
will take you home. 

Mrs. Hunter. Good-by, dear. Be a good boy. 
Don't eat too much candy. 

[Kisses him carelessly. 

Master Sterling. Good-by. [Rujis towards 
the door Left, shouting happily.] Leonard ! Leonard ! 



Mrs. Hunter. [Tearfully.] My dears, it was 
a great success ! Everybody was there ! 

[The three younger women stand and look about 
the room, as if it were strange to them — as if 
it were empty. There is a moment's silence. 



22 THE CLIMBERS 

Blanche. [Tenderly.] Mother, why don't you 
take off your bonnet? 

Mrs. Hunter. Take it off for me; it will be a 
great rehef. 

Blanche. Help me, Jess. 

Mrs. Hunter. [Irritably.] Yes, do something, 
Jessie. You've mortified me terribly to-day! 
That child hasn't shed a tear. People'll think 
you didn't love your father. [The two are taking 
off Mrs. Hunter's bonnet. Mrs. Hunter 
waits for an answer from Jessica ; none comes.] 
I never saw any one so heartless! [Tearful 
again.] And her father adored her. She 
was one of the things we quarrelled most 
about ! 

[Over Mrs. Hunter's head Blanche exchanges 
a sympathetic look with Jessica to show she 
understands. 



THE CLIMBERS 23 

Clara. I'm sure Vve cried enough. I've cried 
buckets. 
\S'he goes to Mrs. Hunter as Blanche and 
Jessica take away the bonnet and veil and 
put them on the piano, 
Mrs. Hunter. [Kissing Clara.] Yes, dear, 
you are your mother's own child. And you lose 
the most by it, too. 

[Leaning against the side of her mother^s chair, 

with one arm about her mother. 
Clara. Yes, indeed, instead of coming out next 
month, and having a perfectly lovely winter, 
I'll have to mope the whole season, and, if I don't 

look out, be a wallflower without ever having 

f 
been a bud ! 

Mrs . Hunter. [Halj amused but feeling Clara's 

remark is perhaps not quite the right thing.] Sh — 

[During Clara's speech above^ Blanche has 



24 THE CLIMBERS 

taken Jessica in her arms a moment and 
kissed her tenderly, slowly. They rejoin 
Mrs. Hunter, Blanche wiping her eyes, 
Jessica still tearless. 
CiARA. And think of all the clothes we brought 
home from Paris last month ! 

Mrs. Hunter. My dear, don't think of clothes 
— think of your poor father ! That street dress 
of mine will dye very well, and we'll give the 
rest to your aunt and cousins. 

Blanche. Mother, don't you want to go upstairs ? 
Jessica. [Sincerely moved.] Yes, I hate this 
room now. 

Mrs. Hunter. [Rising.] Hate this room! 
When we've just had it done ! Louis Kinge ! 

Blanche. Louis Quinze, dear! She means 
the associations now, mother. 
Mrs. Hunter. Oh, yes, but that's weak and 



THE CLIMBERS 25 

foolish, Jessie. No, Blanche — [SiUing again.] — 
I'm too exhausted to move. Ring for tea. 

[Blanche rings the hell beside the mantel. 

Clara. [Crossing to piano, forgets and starts 
to play a music-hall song, hut Mrs. Hunter 
stops her.] Oh, yes, tea! I'm starved! 

Mrs. Hunter. Clara, darhng ! As if you could 
be hungry at such a time! 

[Jordan enters Left. 

Blanche. Tea, Jordan. 

Jordan. Yes, madam. 

[He goes out Left. 

Mrs. Hunter. Girls, everybody in town was 
there ! I'm sure even your father himself couldn't 
have complained. 

Blanche. Mother ! 

Mrs. Hunter. Well, you know he always ^ 
found fault with my parties being too mixed. He 



26 THE CLIMBERS 

wouldn't realize I couldn't throw over all my old 
set when I married into his, — not that I ever 
acknowledged I was your father's inferior. I 
consider my family was just as good as his, only 
we were Presbyterians I 

Blanche. Mother, dear, take off your gloves. 

Mrs. Hunter. I thought I had. [Crying.] 

I'm so heartbroken I don't know what I'm doing. 

[Taking off her gloves. 
[Blanche and Clara comfort their mother. 
Jessica. Here's the tea — 
[Jordan and Leonard enter with large, sil- 
ver tray, with tea, cups, and thin bread-and- 
butter sandwiches. They place them on small 
tea-table which Jessica arranges for them. 
Mrs. Hunter. I'm afraid I can't touch it. 
[Taking her place behind tea-table and biting 
eagerly into a sandwich. 



THE CLIMBERS 27 

Jessica. [Dryly.] Try. 

[Blanche pours tea for them all, which they 
take in turn. 

Mrs. Hunter. [Eating.] One thing I was 
furious about, — did you see the Witherspoons 
here at the house? 

Clara. / did. 

Mrs. Hunter. The idea! When I've never 
called on them. They are the worst social pushers 
I've ever known. 

[She takes another sandwich. 

Clara. Trying to make people think they are 
on our visiting Hst ! Using even a funeral to get in ! 

Mrs. Hunter. But I was glad the Worthings 
were here, and I thought it sweet of old Mr. Dormer 
to go even to the cemetery. [Voice breaks a little.] 
He never goes to balls any more, and, they say, 
catches cold at the sUghtest change of temperatura 



28 THE CLIMBERS 

\S}ie takes a third sandwich. 
Blanche. A great many people loved father. 
Mrs. Hunter. [Irritably.] They ought to've. 
J It was really foolish the way he was always doing 

something for somebody ! How good these sand- 
wiches are! [Spoken very plaintively. 
Jessica. Shall we have to economize now, 
mother ? 

Mrs. Hunter. Of course not; how dare you 
suggest such an injustice to your father, and before 
the flowers are withered on his grave! 

[Again becoming tearful. 
[Jordan enters Left with a small silver tray, 
heaping full of letters. 
Has the new writing paper come? 

Blanche. [Who takes the letters and looks 
through them, giving some to her mother.] Yes. 
[Blanche reads a letter, and passes it to 
Jessica. 



THE CLIMBERS 29 

Mrs. Huxter. Is the black border broad 
enough? They said it was the thing. 

Clar-A.. If you had it any broader, you'd have 
to get white ink to write with! 

Mrs. Hunter. [Sweetly?^ Don't be imperti- 
nent, darHng! 

[Reading another letter. 
[Enter Miss Ruth Hunter. She is an un- 
married woman betiveen thirty and forty years 
of age, handsome, distinguished ; an aris- 
tocrat, without any pretensions ; simple, un- 
afiected, and direct in her effort to do kindnesses 
where they are not absolutely undeserved. She 
enters the roojn as if she carried with her an 
atmosphere of pure ozone. This affects all 
those in it. She is dressed in deep mourning 
and wears a thick chiffon veil, which she 
removes as she enters. 



30 THE CLIMBERS 

Ruth. Oh! you're having tea! 

\Glad that they are. 

Mrs. Hunter. [Taking a second cup.] I thought 
the children ought to. 

Ruth. Of course they ought and so ought you, 
if you haven't. 

Mrs. Hunter. Oh, I've trijied with something. 

Jessica. Sit here, Aunt Ruth. 

Blanche. Will you have a cup. Aunt Ruth? 

Ruth. Yes, dear, I'm feehng very hungry. 

[Sitting on the sofa beside Jessica and pressing 
her hand as she does so. 

Mrs. Hunter. Hungry! How can you! 

Ruth. Because I'm not a hypocrite! 

Mrs. Hunter. [Whimpering.] I suppose that's 
a slur at me! 

Ruth. If the slipper fits ! But I confess I 
haven't eaten much for several days; I couldn't 



THE CLIMBERS 31 

touch anything this morning, and I begin to feel 
exhausted; I must have food and, thank Heaven, 
1 want it. Thank you. 

\To Blanche, taking the cup jrom her. 

Mrs. Hunter. I think it's awful, Ruth, and I 
feel 1 have a right to say it — I think you owed 
it to m\' feelings to have worn a long veil; people 
will think you cHdn't love your brother. 

Ruth. [Dryly.] Will tliey? Let them 1 You 
know as well as I do that George loathed the very 
idea of crepe and all display of mourning. 

Mrs. Hunter. [Feeling out of her elementy 
changes the subject.] You stayed behind? 

Ruth. Yes. I wanted to be the last there. 
[Her voice chokes; she tries to control herself.] Ah ! 
you see my nerves are all gone to pieces. I wonH 
cry any more! 

Mrs. Hunter. I don't see how you could 



3a THE CUMBERS 

bear it — stanng ; but you never had any heart, 
Ruth. 

Ruth. [MahankaUy^ biiing her lips hard to 
keep the tears ha^k.] Haven't I? 

Mrs. Huxter. My darling husband always felt 
tliat defect in you. 

Ruth. George? 

Mrs. HrxiFR. He resented your treatment of 
me, and often s.iid so. 

Ruth. [Very quietly, but with deiermift<]H<fft.] 
Please be careful. Don't talk to me like this 
about my brother, Florence — or you'll make me 
s;\y something I shall Ix' sorry for. 

Mrs. Huxter. I don't care! It wore on him, 
the way you treated me. I put up with it for liis 
s;vke. but it helped undermine his healtli. 

Ruth. Florence, stop! 

Mrs, Huxter. [In fiX^ish anger, the resenUmaU 



THE CLIMBERS 33 

0] years bursting out.] I wonH stop! I'm alone 
now, and the least you can do is to see that people 
who've fought shy of me take me up and give me 
my due. You've been a cruel, selfish sister-in- 
law, and your own brother saw and hated you 
for it! 

Blanche. Mother! 

Ruth. [Outraged.] Send your daughters out of 
the room; I wish to answer you alone. 

Mrs. Hunter. [Frightened.] No! what you 
have to say to me I prefer my children to hear! 

[Clara comes over to her mother and puts her 
arm about her. 

Ruth. I can't remain quiet any longer. George 
— [She almost breaks domn, but she controls herself.] 
This funeral is enough, with its show and worldli- 
ness ! I don't believe there was a soul in the church 
you didn't see! Look at your handkerchief I 

D 



34 THE CLIMBERS 

Real grief isn't measured by the width of a black 
border. I'm ashamed of you, Florence! I never 
liked you very much, although I tried to for your 
husband's sake, but now I'm even more ashamed of 
you. My dear brother is gone, and there need 
be no further bond between us, but I want you to 
understand the true reason why, from to-day, I 
keep away from you. This funeral was revolting 
to me! — a show spectacle, a social function, and 
for him who you know hated the very thing. 
\She stops a moment to control her tears and her 
anger.] 1 saw the reporters there, and I heard 
your message to them, and I contradicted it. I 
begged them not to use your information, and they 
were gentlemen and promised me not to. You are, 
and always have been, a silly, frivolous woman. 
I don't doubt you loved your husband as much 
as you could any man, but it wasn't enough for me; 



THE CLIMBERS 35 

he was worth being adored by the best and noblest 
woman in the world. I've stood by all these 
years, trying with my love and silent sympathy to 
be some comfort to him — but I saw the disap- 
pointment and disillusionment eat away the very 
}iope of happiness out of his heart. I tried to help 
him by helping you in your foolish ambitions, 
doing what I could to give my brother's wife the 
social position his name entitled her to! 

Mrs. Hunter. That's not true; I've had to 
fight it out all alone ! 

Ruth. It was not my fault if my best friends 
found you intolerable ; / couldn't blame them. 
Well, now it's over! George is at rest, please 
God. You are a rich woman to do what you 
please. Go, and do it! and Heaven forgive you 
for ruining my brother's life ! I'm sorry to have 
said all this before your children. Blanche, you 



36 THE CLIMBERS 

know how dearly I love you, and I hope you have 
forgiven me by now for my opposition to your 
marriage. 

Blanche. Of course I've forgiven you, but 
you were always unjust to Dick. 

Ruth. Yes; I didn't like your husband then, 
and I didn't believe in him, but I like him better 
now. And I am going to put all my affairs in his 
hands. I couldn't show — surely — a better proof 
of confidence and liking than that : to trust him as 
I did — your father. I hope I shall see much of 
you and Jessica. As for you, Clara, I must be 
honest — 

Clara. {Interrupting her.] Oh, I know you've 
always hated me! The presents you gave the 
other girls were always twice as nice as I got! 

Mrs. Hunter. [Sympathetically.] Come here, 
darling. 



THE CLIMBERS 37 

[Clara goes and puts her arms about her mothers 

neck. 
Ruth. You are your mother's own child, Clara, 
and I never could pretend anything I didn't feel. 
[She turns to Blanche and Jessica, who stand 
side by side.] You two are all I have left in the 
world of my brother. [She kisses them, and lets 
the tears come^ this time without struggling.'] Take 
pity on your old-maid aunt and come and see me, 
won't you, ojten — [Trying to smile away her 
tears.] And now good-by! 

Jessica and Ruth. [Taking her hands.] 
Good-by. 
[Ruth looks about the room to say good-by 
to it; she cries and hurriedly begins pull- 
ing down her veil, and starts to go out as 
Jordan enters Lejt and announces ^'Mr, 
Mason/" 



38 THE CLIMBERS 

[Mrs. Hunter -fiufis her hair a little and hopes 

she looks becoming. 
[Mason is a typical New Yorker^ well built, ivell 
preserved f dignified, and good-looking, — a 
solid man in every sense of the word. 
Mason. [Meeting Ruth, shakes hands with 
her.] Miss Hunter. 
Ruth. I am just going, Mr. Mason. 
Mason. You must stay. I sent word to your 
house this morning to meet me here. 

[Shakes hands with the others. 
Ruth. I was here all night. 
Mrs. Hunter. Will you have some tea? The 
children were hungry. 

Mason. No, thank you. [To Blanche.] Isn't 
your husband here? 

[Jordan, j/ a signal from Mrs. Hunter, removes 
the tea things^ 



THE CLIMBERS 39 

Blanche. No, he left us at the door when we 
came back. 

Mason. Didn't he get a letter from me this 
morning asking him to meet me here? 

Blanche. Oh, yes, he did mention a letter at 
breakfast, but my thoughts were away. He has 
been very much wf^rried lately over his affairs; 
he doesn't confide in me, but I sec it. I wish you 
could advise him, Mr. Mason. 

Mason. I cannot advise your husband if he 
won't ask my advice. I don't think we'll wait for 
Mr. SterUng. 

\Gives chair to Mrs. Hunter. 

Mrs. Hunter. I suppose you've come about 
all the horrid business. Why not just tell us how 
much our income is, and let all the details go. I 
really think the details are more than I can bear 
to-day. 



40 THE CLIMBERS 

Mason. That can be certainly as you wish ; but 
I felt — as your business adviser — and besides I 
promised my old friend, your husband — it was my 
duty to let you know how matters stand with the 
least possible delay. 

Mrs. Hunter. [Beginning to break down.] 
George ! George ! 

[Ruth looks at her, furious, and bites her lips 
hard. Jessica is standing with her back 
toward them. 

Mason. Well, then — 

[He is interrupted by Mrs. Hunter, who sees 
Jessica. 

Mrs. Hunter. Jess! How rude you are! 
Turn around this minute ! [Jessica does not move.] 
What do you mean! Excuse me, Mr. Mason! 
Jess ! Such disrespect to your father's will ! 
Turn around! [Angry.] Do you hear me?. 



THE CLIMBERS 41 

Jessica. \Wiih her hack still turned, her shoul- 
ders shaking J speaks in a voice broken with sobs.] 
Leave me alone ! Leave me alone — 

[She sits in a chair beside her and leans her arms 
upon its back and buries her jace in her arms. 

Blanche. \With her hand on her mother^ s arm.] 
Mother! Don't worry her! 

Mrs. Hunter. Go on, please, Mr. Mason, 
and remember, spare us the details. What is our 
income ? 

Mason. Mrs. Hunter, there is no income. 

Mrs. Hunter. [Quietly, not at all grasping 
what he means.] No income! How is our 
money — 

Mason. I am sorry to say there is no 
money. 

Mrs. Hunter. [Echoes weakly.] No money? 

Mason. Not a penny! 



42 THE CUMBERS 

Mrs. Hunter. \Rca\izing now what he means ^ 
cries out in a loud, Jiard, amazed voice.] What! 

Blanche. [Witii her hand on her shoulder.] 
Mother ! 

Mrs. Hunter. I don't believe It! 

Ruth. [To Mason.] My good friend, do you 
mean tliat literally — that my brother died 
without leaving a)iy money behind him? 

Mrs. Hunter. For his wife and family? 

Mason. I mean just that 

Ruth. But how? 

Mrs. Hunter. Yes, tell us the details — every 
one (^f them ! You can't imagine the shock this is 
to me ! 

Mason. Hunter sent for me two days before he 
died, and told me things had gone badly with him 
last year, but it seemed impossible to retrench 
his expenses. ^ 



THE CLIMBERS 43 

Ruth. Are you listenings Florence? 

Mrs. Hunter. Yes, of course I am; your 
brother was a very extravagant man ! 

Mason. This year, with his third daughter 
coming out, there was need of more money than 
ever. He was harassed nearly to death with 
financial worries. [Ruth begins to cry sojtly. 
Mrs. Hunter gets angrier and angrier.] And 
finally, in sheer desperation, and trusting to the 
advice of the Storrings, he risked everything he 
had with them in the Consolidated Copper. 
The day after, he was taken ill. You know what 
happened. The Storrings, Hunter, and others 
were ruined absolutely; the next day Hunter 
died. 

Ruth. Poor George! Why didn't he come to 
me; he must have known that everything I had 
was his! 



44 THE CUMBERS 

Mason. He was too ill when the final blow 
came to realize it. 

Mrs. Hunter. [-4«^vv.] But his ///f insurance, 
— there was a big pohcy in my name. 

Mason. He had been obhged to let that lapse. 

Mrs. Hunter. You mean I haven't even my 
U]€ insurance? 

Mason. As I said, there is nothing, except this 
house, and that is — 

Mrs. Hunter. [iv;>f\^ indignantly and almost 
screams in ar.^ry J:\st erics.] Mortgaged, I presume ! 
Oh, it's insulting ! It's an indignity. It's — it's — 
Oh. well, it's just Hke my husband, there! 

Blanche. Mother! 

[Ruth rises y and, taking Mason's arm, leads him 
aside. 

Mrs. Hunter. [Tl^ Blanche.] Oh, don't talk 
to me now ! You always preferred your father, 



THE CLIMBERS 45 

and now you're punished for it ! He has wilfully 
left your mother and sisters paupers! 

Blanche. How can you speak like that! 
Surely you know father must have suffered more 
than we could when he realized he was leaving 
nothing for you. 

Jessica. Yes, and it was for us too that he lost 
all. It was our extravagance. 

Mrs. Hunter. Hush! How dare you side 
against me, too? 

Ruth. Florence — 

Mrs. Hunter. Well, Ruth, what do you think 
of your brother now? 

Blanche. \To her mother. \ Don't! 

Mason. By whom were the arrangements for 
to-day made? 

Mrs. Hunter. My son-in-law had most press- 
ing business, and his friend — 



46 THE CLIMBERS 

Blanche. The friend of all of us — 

Mrs. Hunter. Yes, of course, Mr. Warden 
saw to everything. 

Blanche. He will be here any moment ! 

Mason. When he comes, w411 you send him on 
to me, please? 

Ruth. Yes. 

Mason. Very well. Good-by. \Sha'kes hands 
ivith Blanche.] I am very sorry to have been 
the bearer of such bad news. 

Mrs. Hunter. [Shaking hands with him.] 
Please overlook anything I may have said ; at such 
a moment, with the loss of all my money — and 
my dear husband — I don't know what to say ! 

Mason. Naturally. [To the others.] Good-by. 
[To Ruth, who follows him.] I'll come to see you 
in the morning. 

[As they shake Jiands. 



THE CLIMBERS 47 

Ruth. And I can then tell you what I settle 
here now. [Mason goes out Left.] Florence, I'm 
very sorry — 

.' ■ ' ^ '&.^ - [Interrupted. 

Mrs. Hunter. Oh! You! Sorry! 

Ruth. Yes, very, very sorry, — first, that I 
spoke as I did just now. 

Mrs. Hunter. It's too late to be sorry for 
that now. 

Ruth. No, it isn't, and I'll prove to you I mean 
it. Come, we'll talk things, over. 

Mrs. Hunter. Go away! I don't want you 
to prove anything to me! [Mrs. Hunter and 
Clara sit side by side on the sofa. Blanche and 
Jessica are in chairs near the table. Ruth sits 
beside Blanche. Mrs. Hunter has something 
the manner oj porcupines and shows a set de- 
termination to accept nothing by way oj comfort 



48 THE CLIMBERS 

or expedient. Blanche looks hopeful and ready 
to take the helm for the family. Jessica will back 
up Blanche.] My happiness in this world is 
over. What have I to live for? 

Ruth. Your children! 

Mrs. Hunter. Beggars like myself! 

Blanche. But your children will work for you. 

Clara. Work! I see myself. 

Ruth. So do I. 

Mrs. Hunter. My children work! Don't be 
absurd ! 

Jessica. It is not absurd ! I can certainly earn 
my own Hving somehow and so can Clara. 

Clara. Doing whaty I should like to know! 
I see myself! 

Blanche. Jess is right. I'll take care of this 
family — father always said I was "his own child." 
I'll do my best to take his place. 



THE CLIMBERS 49 

Ruth. I will gladly give Jessica a home. 

Mrs. Hunter. [Whimpers.] You'd rob me of 
my children, tool 

Jessica. Thank you, Aunt Ruth, but I must 
stay with mother and be Blanche's right-hand 
man! 

Clara. I might go on the stage. 

Mrs. Hunter. My dear, smart people don't 
any more. 

Clara. I'd like to be a sort of Anna Held. 

Jessica. I don't see why I couldn't learn type- 
writing, Blanche? 

Mrs. Hunter. Huh! Why, you could never 
even learn to play the piano ; I don't think you'd 
be much good at typewriting. 

Clara. You want to be a typewriter, because 
in the papers they always have an old gentleman 
taking them to theatres and supper! No, sir, if 

£ 



50 THE CLIMBERS 

there is to be any "old man's darling" in this 
family, 77/ be /// 

Ruth. \Pry\y.\ You'll have to learn to spell 
correctly first ! 

Clara. [Superciliously.] Humph! 

Jessica. There are lots of ways nowadays for 
women to earn their living. 

Ruth. Yes, typewriting we will consider. 

Mrs. Hunter. Never! 

[A^^ cue pays any attention to her except Clara, 
who agrees with her. 

Ruth. Jess, you learned enough to teach, 
didn't you ? — even at that fashionable school 
your mother sent you to? 

Jessica. Oh, yes, I think I could teach. 

Mrs. Hunter. Never ! 

[Still no one pays any attention except Cl.\ra, 
who again agrees with her. 



THE CLIMBERS 51 

Clara. No, indeed! / wouldn't teach! 

Blanche. If we only knew some nice elderly 
woman who wanted a companion, Jess would be 
a godsend. 

Clara. If she was a nice old lady with lots of 
money and deHcate health, I wouldn't mind that 
position myself. 

Ruth. Clara, you seem to take this matter 
as a supreme joke ! 

Mrs. Hunter. \With mock humility \ May I 
speak? [She waits. All turn to her. A momenVs 
silence.] May I speak? 

Ruth. Yes, yes. Go on, Florence ; don't you 
see we're listening? 

Mrs. Hunter. I didn't know! I've been 
so completely ignored in this entire conversation. 
But there is one thing for the girls — the easiest 
possible way for them to earn their living — 



52 THE CUMBERS 

which you don't seem for a moment to have 
thought of! 

[She waits icith a smile oj coming triumph on her 
lace. 

Ruth. Nursing! 

Mrs. Hunter. [Disgusted.] No! 

Clara. Manicuring ? 

Mrs. Hunter. Darling! 

Blanche. Designing dresses and hats? 

Mrs. Hunter. No ! 

Jessica. Book-keeping ? 

Mrs. Hunter. No. 

Ruth. Then what in me worki is it? 

Mrs. Hunter. Marriage! 

Clara. Oh. of course! 

Ruth. Humph! 

[Jessica and Blanche exchange glances. 

Mrs. Hun'TER. That young Mr. Trotter would 
be a tine catch for Jess. 



THE CLIMBERS 53 

Jessica. Who loathes him! 

Mrs. Hunter. Don't be old-fashioned! He's 
very nice. 

Ruth. A little cad, trying to get into society — 
nice occupation for a man! 

Jessica. Mother, you can't be serious. 

Clara. Why wouldn't he do for me? 

Ruth. He would! The very thing! 

Mrs. Hunter. We'll see, darling ; I think 
Europe is the place for you. I don't believe all 
the titles are gobbled up yet. 

Ruth. Jess, I might get you some women 
friends of mine, to whom you could go mornings 
and answer their letters. 

Mrs. Hunter. I should not allow my daughter 
to go in that capacity to the house of any woman 
who had refused to call on her mother, which is 
the way most of your friends have treated me! 



54 THE CUMBERS 

Ruth. Do you realize. Florence, this is a ques- 
tion of bread and butter, a practical suggestion of 
life, which has nothing whatever to do xNith the 
societ}- columns of the daily papers? 

Mrs. Hvxter. I do fwt intend that my daugh- 
ters shall lose their positions because their father 
has been — what shall we call it — criminally 
negligent of them. 

Ruth, [jf^i^sm^.] How dare you! You are to 
blame for it all. If you say another word injuri- 
ous to my brother's memon\ I'll leave this house 
and let }*ou stane for aU I'll do for \-ou. 

Bi_\xcHE. Aunt Ruth, please, for father's 
sake — 

Cl.\ra. Well, this house is ours, an\-\s-ay I 

Bl.\nche. That is what /':r been thinking 
of. The house is yours. It's huge. You don't 
need it. \*ou must either give it up altogether — 



THE CLIMBERS 55 

Mrs. Hunter. [Itiicrrupts.] What/ Leave it! 
My house/ Never / 

Blanche. Or — let out floors to one or two 
friends, — bachelor friends. Mr. Mason , perhaps — 

Clara. [Interrupts, rising, furious.] Take in 
boarders / 

Mrs. Hunter. [Who has listened aghast, noio 
rises in outraged dignity; she stands a moment 
glaring at Blanche, then speaks.] Take — 
[She chokes.] That is the last straw! 

[And she sweeps jrom the room Right. 

Clara. Mama! Mama! 

[She goes out ajter her mother. 

[The other three women watch the two leave the 
room, then turn and look at each other. 

Blanche. We'll manage somehow, only I think 
it would be easier for us to discuss all practical 
matters by ourselves. 



56 THE CLIMBERS 

Ruth. And I want you to understand this, 
girls, — I represent your dear father ; half of 
everything I have is yours, and you must promise 
me always to come to me for everything. 

[Sterling enters suddenly Left. 
[He is a man of thirty-eight or forty, a singu- 
larly attractive personality; he is handsome 
and distinguished. His hair is grayer than 
his years may account for and his manner 
betrays a nervous system overtaxed and barely 
under control. At the moment that he enters 
he is evidently laboring under some especial, 
and only half-concealed, nervous strain. In 
spite of his irritability at times with his wife, 
there is an undercurrent of tenderness which 
reveals his real love for Blanche. 
Sterling. Oh, you're all here ! Have I missed 
old Mason? 



THE CLIMBERS 57 

Ruth. Yes, but Blanche will tell you what he 
had to say. I'm going upstairs to try and pacify 
your mother. We mustn't forget she has a hard 
time ahead of her. 

" ' \She goes out Right with Jessica. 

Sterling. I suppose Mason came about the 
will and your father's affairs? 

Blanche. Yes, you ought to have been here. 

Sterling. [Irritably.] But I couldn't — I told 
you I couldn't 1 

Blanche. Do you reaHze, dear, that you 
haven't been able to do anything for me for a long 
time ? Lately, even I hardly ever see you — I stay 
home night after night alone. 

Sterling. That's your own fault, dear; Ned 
Warden's always ready to take you anywhere you 
Hke. 

Blanche. [With the ghost of a jest.] But do you 



5$ THE CLIMBERS 

think it's quite right for me to take up all Mr. 
Warden's lime? 

Sterling. Why not, if he likes it? 

Blanche. And don't you think people \\\Vl 
soon talk? 

Sterling. Darhng! People always talk, and 
who cares! 

Blanche. It's months since you showed me 
any sign of affection, and now when my heart is 
hungrier than ever for it, — you know how I loved 
my father, — I long for sympathy from you, and 
vou haven't once thought to take me, your wife, 
in your arms and hold me close and comfort me. 

Sterling. I'm sorry, old girl. I'm really sorry. 
[Embrac'uu^ her alfectionjttly.] And surely you 
know I don't love any other woman in the world 
but you. [He kisses her.] It's only because I've 
been terriblv worried. I don't want to bother vou 



THE CLIMBERS 59 

with business, but I've been in an awful hole for 
money. I tried to make a big coup in Wall Street 
the other day and only succeeded getting in deeper, 
and for the last few days I've been nearly distracted. 

Blanche. Why didn't you tell me? 

Sterling. I thought I'd get out of it with this 
ConsoUdated Copper without worrying you. 

Blanche. You were in that, too? 

Sterling. How do you mean I, ''too"? 

Blanche. Mr. Mason has just told us ]at]ier 
lost ever}'thing in it. 

Sterling. \Aghast.\ You don't mean your 
father hasn't left any money? 

Blanche. Nothing. 

Sterling. [Forgetting everything hut what this 
means to him.] Nothing! But I was counting on 
your share to save me ! \\^iat did the damned 
old fool mean? 



6o THE CLIMBERS 

Blanxhe, Dick ! 

Sterling. Forgive me. I didn't mean to say 
that. 

Blanche. Oh, who are you! What are you! 
You are not the man I thought when I married 
you I Every day something new happens to 
frighten me. to threaten my love for you ! 

Sterling. Xo, no, don't say that, old giri. 
[He tries to take her hand. 

Blanche. What right have you to criticise 
my father, to curse him — and to-day ! 

Sterling. I don't know what I'm saying. 
Blanche. Try to forgive me. I wouldn't have 
thought of such a thing as his money to-day if 
it wasn't the only thing that can save me from 
— disgrace. 

[His voice sinking almost to a zchisper and the 
man himself sinking into a chair. 



THE CLIMBERS 6i 

Blanche. Disgrace! How? What disgrace? 

[Going to him. 

Sterling. I can't explain it ; you wouldn't 
understand. 

Blanche. You must explain it! Your dis- 
grace is mine. 

Sterling. [Alarmed at having said so much, 
tries to retract a little.} Disgrace was too strong a 
word — I didn't mean that. I'm in trouble. I'm 
in trouble. Good God, can't you see it? And 
if you love me, why don't you leave me alone? 

Blanche. How can I go on loving you without 
your confidence ? — without ever being suffered 
to give you any sympathy? Doll wives are out of 
fashion, and even if they weren't, I could never 
be one. 

Sterling. [Laughing.] My dear, I'd never 
accuse you of being stuffed with sawdust. 



62 THE CLIMBERS 

Blanche. Oh, and now you joke about it ! 
Take care, Dick. 

Sterling. What's this, a threat? 

Blanche. Yes, if you Hke to call it that. You've 
been putting me more and more completely out 
of your Hfe; take care that I don't finish your work 
and go the last step. 

Sterlln'G. \Seizing her roughly by the wrist.] 
The last step! \\Tiat do you mean by that? 
[Holding her hand more roughly.] You dare to be 
unfaithful to me ! 

Blanche. What ! You could think I meant 
that ! Ugh ! How could you ? 

Sterling. Well, w^hat did you mean then ? Eh ? 

[Pulling her up close to him, her face close to 
his. She realizes -first by the odor, then by a 
searching look at his face, that he is partly 
under the influence of liquor. 



THE CLIMBERS 63 

Blanche. \With pathetic shame.] Let me go! 
I see what's the matter with you, but the reason is 
no excuse ; you've been drinking. 

Sterling. [Dropping her hand.] Ugh ! The 
usual whimper of a woman ! 
'""'""^^ ""- ' [Ruth reenters Right. 

Ruth. Well, Blanche, dear, your mother's in 
a calmer frame of mind, and I must go. Dick, 
can you lunch with me to-morrow? 

Sterling. [Hesitating, not caring about it.] 
Er — to-morrow ? — er — 

Ruth. Oh, only for business. I must have a 
new business man now to do all that he did for me, 
and I'm going to try to make up to you for not 
having been always your — best friend, by putting 
my affairs in your hands. 

Blanche. [Serious, uneasy, almost frightened.] 
Aunt Ruth — 



64 THE CUMBERS 

\She stops. 
Ruth. What, dear? 
Blanche. Nothing. 

[She gives Sterling a searching^ steady look and 

keeps her eyes upon him, trying to read his 

real self. 

Ruth. [Continues to Sterling.] Mr. Mason is 

coming to me in the morning, and if you will lunch 

with me at one, I will then be able to give all the 

papers over to you. 

[Sterling, who up to this time has been almost 

dumbfounded by this sudden good fortune, now 

collects himself, and speaks delightedly but 

with sufficient reserve of his feelings. Blanche 

does not take her eyes from Sterling's face. 

Sterling. Aunt Ruth, I thank you from the 

bottom of my heart, and I will do my best. 

Blanche. [Quickly.] Promise her, Dick, before 



THE CLIMBERS 65 

me — give her your word of honor — you will 
be faithful to Aunt Ruth's trust. 
\He answers Blanche's look steadily with a 

hard gaze of his own. 
Ruth. His acceptance of my trust is equal to 
that, Blanche. 
Blanche. It is of course, isn't it, Dick? 
Sterling. Of course. 
[Blanche is not content, but has to satisfy herself 

with this. 
Ruth. To-morrow at one, then. 

[She starts to go. 
[Jordan enters Left. 
Jordan. Mr. Warden. 
Ruth. I can't wait. Good-by. 

[She goes out Left. 
Blanche. We will see Mr. Warden. 
Jordan. Yes, madam. 

F 



66 THE CLIMBERS 

[He goes out Left. 
Sterling. Blanche, go to your mother and 
ask her to see Ned to thank him. I want a 
minute's talk with him if you don't mind. 

Blanche. [Pathetically.] What difference does 
it make, Dick, if I do mind? 

Sterling. Don't say that, old girl, and don't 
think it. 
Blanche. Dick, you are honest, aren't you? 
Sterling. [Without flinching.] What a ques- 
tion, Blanche! 
[Jordan enters Left announcing ^'Mr. Warden.^ ^ 

Warden enters^ and Jordan goes out. 
[Edward Warden, though in reality scarcely 
younger than Sterling, looks at least ten 
years his junior. He is good-looking, practicaly 
a reasoning being, and self-controlled. He is a 
thorough American, with the fresh and strong 



THE CLIMBERS 67 

ideals oj his race, and with the feeling of 
romance alive in the bottom of his heart. 

Sterling. [In enormous relief, greets him 
joyfully.] Ned, what do you think ! The greatest 
news going! 

Blanche. Dick ! 

Sterling. Excuse me, Blanche, I forgot; but 
Ned will know how I can't help being glad. 

[Warden goes to Mrs. Sterling. 

Blanche. [Shaking Ned's hand.] And Mr. 
Warden knows nothing could make me ^^ glad''* 
to-day. Thank you for all your kindness — 

Warden. Don't thank me ; it was nothing. 

Blanche. Yes, please let me thank you all I 
can; it won't be half what I feel, but I want to 
know that you know even my silence is full of 
gratitude for all you've done for my mother, sisters, 
and me. 



68 THE CLIMBERS 

Sterling. Yes, we're all immensely indebted 
to you, Ned, old man. 

Blanche. I will tell mother. I know she 
wants to see you. 

^ ^ I " {She goes out Right. 

Sterling. [Speaking with suppressed excite- 
7)ient and uncontroUahle gladness, unable to keep 
it back any longer.] Ned, my wife's aunt, 
Miss Hunter, has put all her business in my 
hands. 

Warden. Made you her agent? 

Sterling. Yes! What a godsend! Hunter 
didn't leave a cent. 

[.4 momenfs pause of astojtishment.] 

Warden. What do you mean? 

Sterling. It seems he's been losing for a long 
time. Everything he had he lost in the copper 
crash. 



THE CUMBERS 69 

Warden. But this is awful! What will Mrs. 
Hunter and her two young daughters do? 

Sterling. I don't know. I hadn't thought of 
that. 

Warden. You'll have to think of it. 

Sterling. I ? 

Warden. Of course you'll have to help them. 

Sterling. I can't! Look here, I didn't tell 
you the truth about my affairs last week, when I 
struck you for that loan. 

Warden. You don't mean to say you weren't 
straight with me? 

Sterling. Oh, I only didn't want to frighten 
you till I'd got the money; if you had made me the 
loan, I'd have owned up afterwards all right 
enough. 

Warden. Owned up what? 

Sterling. That I told you a pack of Hes! 



TO THE CLIMBERS 

— that I haven't any security ! — that I haven't 
anything but dehis. 

Warden. \Sirongly.\ Good things to borrow 
on ! Look here, Dick, how long have we been 
friends ? 

Sterling. Since that day at boarding school 
when you took a Hcking for something / did. 

Warden. What I mean is we were pals at 
school, chums at college, stanch friends for 
twenty years. 

Sterling. Hell! Are we as old as all that? 

Warden. Inseparable friends till the last two 
years. 

[Sterling's eyes shijt. 

Sterling. I've been overworked lately, and 
everything has gone wrong! 

Warden. \Comes up to him, and speaks firmly 
but still friendly,] You yourself have gone wrong 1 



THE CLIMBERS 71 

Sterling. \0n the defensive.] What do you 
mean? 

Warden. Why did you take your business out 
of my hands? 

Sterling. The law didn't pay me enough. I 
thought I'd try a little amateur stockbroking. 

[Smiling insincerely. 

Warden. You didn't want me to know what 
you were doing! 

Sterling. Rats! 

Warden. You didn't want me to know what 
funds — whose funds — you were using — mousing. 

Sterling. [Ugly.] What! 

Warden. Whose money you were gambling with ! 

Sterling. Have you been spying on me? 

Warden. Your wife^s money! 

Sterling. Well, she's my wife, and you don't 
know what you're talking about! 



72 THE CLIMBERS 

[He turns from him and picks tip a book from the 
table upside down and pretends to read it. 

Warden. You stole from me once when you 
were a boy! 

Sterling. No! I didn't! 

[Throwing the book down. 

Warden. You lie ! Do you hear me ? You 
lief [He waifs a second. Sterling does nothing.] 
I was never sure till to-day ! I fought against ever 
thinking it, believing my suspicions were an injus- 
tice to you, but little things were always disappear- 
ing out of my rooms — finally, even money. 
Lately, that old suspicion has come back with a 
fuller force, and to-day it became a certainty. 

Sterling. How to-day? 

Warden. Because if it weren't true, you'd 
have knocked me down just now when I called 
you first a thief and twice a liar! 



THE CLIMBERS 73 

\He stands squarely facing him. Sterling stands 
facing him also, surprised, taken off his guard. 

Sterling. Oh, come, you're joking ! [Warden 
makes an angry exclamation.] Why're you telling 
me all this now? 

Warden. Because I want you to be careful. 
I want you to know some one is watching you! 
Some one who knows what you've come to ! Some 
one who knows you can't resist temptation ! Some 
one who knows money not yours has stuck to your 
fingers ! .' 

Sterling. You mind your own business. 

Warden. I'll mind yours if it's necessary to / 
protect people who are dear to me ! 

[Sterling looks at him with a sudden suspicion. 

Sterling. [Insinuatingly.] I didn't know you 
were particularly attached to Mrs. Hunter. 

Warden. I'm not. 



y4 TNE CUMBERS 

S .y^i TNO-. Or to her two immairied daughters! 

Sterlixg. [With uhi^f^fi^ :'::r:s::y.] By dvxi, 
if you an^ in love with my wite 1 

Waxi^vn. It >\>u thought that out ioud, I'd 
knock you down! 

Steriixo. Huh! \xm talk as if yo : :c: : I 
wore a cxnvaixi! 

Warden. Xo, not a pkysicai cowmxi — 1\^ seen 
\vu do tov'' many plucky things — but a m&r\al 
co^ivaTd — >Ts. you aw one! 

[Strm^hi |0 himt stmMfg d^se tmi i ^o kmg kim 
sqmardy m Ae ews. 

SrERLDCiCk [fF«i9<r»i|^.] Oh, you^re too damned 

[Mrs. Hunter titters ^i^ with Clara, Mrs, 
Hi-NTKR iMks ktsmds wUk Warden sUeniiy, 
k^ppy m tkef^mg tiuii she is im grtkU 4]^h- 



THE CLIMBERS 75 

tion^ and satisfied wiih the appearance and 
impression sJie is tnaking. She carries her 
handkerchief, ivith its black border, ready in 
her hand. Clara has silently shaken hands 
with Warden, after her mother. She after- 
wards goes to Sterling and hands him several 
of the letters of condolence. She then goes to 
tJie ztundow at Left, pulling aside the curtain, 
and stands looking out, rather bored, ivishing 
she could go out and take a walk. 

Mrs. Hunter. We will never forget your 
kindness. Will the evening papers have anything 
in, do you think? 

Warden. No, not before morning. 

Mrs. Hunter. [5/^/w.] Every one was there. 

Sterling. Where's Blanche? 

Mrs. Hunter. Upstairs. She said she was 
going after Aunt Ruth. 



76 THE CLIMBERS 

Sterling. \Frightcncd.\ After Aunt Ruth? 
\Strong\y.\ What for? 

Mrs. Hunter. I don't know. \\Vhimpmng.\ 
I'm not considered in the family any 
longer ! 

Sterling. I shall stop and take her 
home. 

[Jordan enters. 

Jordan. Will you see visitors, madam? 

Sterling. No. 

\Hc goes out Right. 

Mrs. Hunter. ''No"? Yes, we will! I need 
to see some one, or I shall break down. Go up- 
stairs, Clara ! 

Clara. No, ivhy need I? 

Mrs. Hunter. You're not out yet. 

Clara. I don't care ! At this rate I'll never 
get ''out." Who are they, Jordan? 



THE CLIMBERS 77 

Jordan. Miss Sillerton, Miss Godesby, and 
Mr. Trotter, miss. 

Warden. I must go, Mrs. Hunter. 
Mrs. Hunter. [Relieved.] So sorry. Could 
you go straight to Mr. Mason? He wishes to see 
you? 

[Shaking hands. 
Warden. Certainly. 
Mrs. Hunter. Thank you. 

[Warden inclines his head to Clara. 
Clara. [Lightly.] Good-by ! 

[Warden goes out Left. 
Mrs. Hunter. I don't think we ought to re- 
ceive Mr. Trotter. 

Clara. Pshaw! why not? If there's really 
any idea of my mar — 

[She stops short, silenced by a look from her 
mother and an indication toward Jordan. 



78 THE CLIMBERS 

Mrs. Hunter. Show them up, Jordan. [Jor- 
dan hows and goes out.] How do I look, dear? 
[Arranges her handkerchief. 
Clara. [Looking in the mirror.] How do I? 
Mrs. Hunter. [With her back to Clara.] I 
asked you first how I looked ! 

Clara. [Not observing.] Oh, you're all right; 
how am I? 

Mrs. Hunter. [Not looking at Clara.] 
Charming! We'll go upstairs and come down 
again; I don't think it nice to be found here as if 
we were expecting visitors. 

[They go out Right. 
[Jordan steps into the room to announce the 
visitors, and seeing no one there, bows as the 
three pass him. 
Jordan. The ladies will be down at once. 

[He goes out Right, 



^ P ^ '"' THE CLIMBERS 79 

[The three turn, looking about the room 
with curiosity, as if the funeral might have 
made some difference in the house. 

[Miss Sillerton is a handsome, attractive 
woman, most fashionably dressed and per- 
fectly conventional in character and intelli- 
gence. Miss Godesby is a little slow, more 
assertive, sharper of tongue, more acutely 
intelligent, and equally smartly dressed. She 
has still a remnant of real, sincere feeling 
buried under a cynical mask which her life 
in a fast set has developed for her self- 
preservation. Trotter is a foolish young 
person, meaning well enough according to 
his lights, which are not of the biggest and 
brightest. 

Trotter. Classy house altogether! 

Miss Sillerton, Mrs. Hunter went to the 



y 



So THE CLIMBERS 

most expensive decorator in town, and told him, no 
matter what it cost, to go ahead and do his worst! 

[They all laugh and seat themselves comfortably. 

Trotter. Say! The youngest daughter is a 
good looker — very classy. 

Miss Sillerton. That's the one we told you 
about, the one we want you to marry. 

Miss Godesby. Yes, with your money and her 
cleverness, she'll rubber neck you into the smartest 
push in town! 

Trotter. YouVe promised I shall know the 
whole classy lot before spring. 

Miss Godesby. So you will if you do as we 
tell you. But you mustn't let society see that you 
know you're getting in ; nothing pleases society 
so much as to think you're a blatant idiot. It 
makes everybody feel you're their equal — that's 
why you get in. 



THE CLIMBERS 8l 

Trotter. I've got a coach and can drive four- 
in-hand. I've an automobile drag, and the biggest 
private yacht in the world building. I'm going to 
have the most expensive house in Long Island, 
where the oysters come from, and I've bought a 
lot in Newport twice as big as the swellest fellow's 
there. I've got a house in London and a flat in 
Paris, and I make money fly. I think I ought to 
be a cinch at a classy success. 

Miss Godesby. Don't be a yap; flag Clara 
Hunter and you're all right 1 

Miss Sillerton. Her father's position was the 
best in this country ! 

Trotter. But he's dead. 

\Sitting. 

Miss Godesby. A good thing for you, for he 
would never have stood for you ! 

Trotter. He'd have had to — or do without 



82 THE CLIMBERS 

me as a son-in-law — I wouldn't marry the Venus 
of Milo if her father didn't think I was good 
enough. I'm no Dodo bird ! 

Miss Godesby. It's up to you now, Trotter! 
Go in and win. 

[Enter Tompson Right ; a decided change 
takes place in all their manners. 

Tompson. Madam will be down at once, 
miss. 

Miss Sillerton. Thank you. 

[Tompson goes out Right. 

Miss Godesby. Only stay a minute or two, 
Trotty — we're doing our best for you, but we 
must look out for ourselves, too, and we've come 
here to-day on business. 

Miss Sillerton. How'U we ever get the subject 
on to clothes? 

Miss Godesby. Humph! Do you think you 



THE CLIMBERS 83 

can talk five minutes with Mrs. Hunter and not 
hit that topic ? It's a bull's eye ! 

Trotter. I don't see where I'm going to come 
into this classy conversation. 

Miss Godesby. You see, Trotty, they brought 
over piles of clothes from Europe this year, and 
we want to get hold of them before any one else 
has a chance — get 'em cheap before they have an 
idea anybody else '11 buy them. 

Trotter. Who buy what? 

Miss Sillerton. We — buy their winter clothes. 

Trotter. For Heaven's sake! 

Miss Godesby. Laugh, you silly! I heard 
the Reed girls planning to come to-morrow. 
They didn't dare come to-day. Those girls 
haven't any sand! They're always getting 
left. 

Trotter. You two are Dodo birds! 



84 THE CLIMBERS 

Miss Godesby. I say, Eleanor, you're such a 

lobster about prices and Mrs. Hunter's no idiot, 

we'd better agree on some sort of a signal ! Listen ! 

if you like a gown very much, ask the price, then 

say to me, "My dear, your hat pin is coming out." 

And if I think it's a bargain, I'll say, "So it is, 

thank you ; won't you put it in for me?" And if 

I think Mrs. Hunter's trying to stick you, I'll 

say "No, it isn't ; it's always like that." 

Miss Sillerton. All right. |\ ^ 

[Mrs. Hunter and Clara enter Right. The 

manner of Miss Sillerton and Miss Godesby 

changes immediately. They speak with rather 

subdued voices, in the tone of conventional 

sympathy which is usually adopted on such 

occasions. Mrs. Hunter also assumes the 

fnafiner of a martyr to grief. Clara is casual 

and hard. 



THE CLIMBERS 85 

Miss Sillerton. \Shakes hands with Mrs. 
Hunter.] Dear Mrs. Hunter. 

\Ske kisses her. 
Clara, dear. 

[She kisses her. 
[Miss Godesby goes to Mrs. Hunter and 
shakes hands while Miss Sillerton crosses 
to Clara ; Trotter shakes hands with Mrs. 
Hunter as Miss Godesby goes to Clara. 
Trotter. I hope you don't think my coming 
an intrusion. 
Mrs. Hunter. Not at all. 
Miss Godesby. I felt we must stop in for a 
few minutes to give you our love and sympathy 
and find out how you are. 

Mrs. Hunter. I've been through a terrible 
strain. My loss is even greater than I could ever 
possibly imagine. 



86 THE CUMBERS 

Clara. [Who misinterprets her fuotJier's rc- 
viark.] Yes, indeed, I should say it was! 

[Mrs. Hunter stops her with a icartiiftg 
look. 

Mrs. Hunter. But every one has been most 
kind. Liiily Hopeton sent me a beautiful long 
letter to-day. 

Miss Godesby. And I'm glad to lind you look- 
ing so well. Black suits you ! 

[She eArhan^es a ktio7cin^ glaucc icith Miss 
Sillerton. 

Mrs. Hunter. Oh, I don't know, JuUa; I've 
always thought black very trying for me. 

Miss Godesby. Oh, no ! rjery one's saying 
just the reverse! 

Mrs. Hunter. But — I suppose clothes don't 
interest you, Mr. Trotter? 

Trotter. Oh, yes, they do, out of sight ! 



THE CLIMBERS 87 

Clara. Well, I wish you could have seen the 
beautiful things we brought over with us! 

Miss Sillerton. Julia and I were just speaking 
about it, and pitying you from the bottom of our 
hearts. 

[Miss Sillerton and Miss Godesby again 
exchange surreptitious glances. 

Mrs. Hunter. Every one's been most kind. 
[There is an awkward pause jar a monwnt, no one 
knowing quite what to say. Both Miss Godesby 
and Miss Sillerton have started the conversation 
in the direction oj clothing and are jearjid of the 
topic being changed. As the pause becomes em- 
barrassing, they look helplessly jrom one to the other, 
and all five, suddenly and at once, make an in- 
effectual effort to say something — or Jiothing. 
Out of the general confusion Mrs. Hunter 
comes to the front, fnistress of the situation.] Are 



88 THE CLIMBERS 

you going to stay in New York this winter, Mr. 
Trotter ? 

Trotter. Yes, I'm negotiating for one of the 
biggest classy building plots on upper Fifth 
Avenue. 

Clara. \To Miss Godesby.] I saw in the 
papers you were at the dance last night. 

[Miss Godesby nods and motions surreptitiously 
to Trotter to go. He, however, doesnH 
understand. 
Mrs. Hunter. [With interest again in life.] 
Oh, were you? What did you wear? 

Miss Godesby. Oh, dowdy old things. I 
haven't bought my winter frocks yet. 

[She repeats this casually as if to herself. 
[Miss Sillerton motions to Trotter to go, 
but he has forgotten and still doesnH under- 
stand. 



THE CLIMBERS 89 

Trotter. What ? 

Miss Godesby. You warned us not to let you 
forget your engagement ! 

Trotter. What engagement? 

Miss Sillerton. How do we know! we only 
know you said you had to go! 

Trotter. Never said so! Oh! \As it dawns 

upon him.] Oh, yes! of course. [He rises.] Very 

sorry — must be off. Only dropped in — er — 

that is, came in to express my respectful sympathy. 

[Shaking hands with Mrs. Hunter. 

Mrs. Hunter. [Who rises.] I hope you will 
come and see us again. 

Clara. Do! It'll be a godsend! We'll be 
dull as ditch water here this winter! 

Trotter. I shall be delighted to call again. 
Good-by. [He bows to Clara. In his embarrass- 
ment he starts to shake hands all over again^ but, 



90 THE CLIMBERS 

realizing his mistake, laughs ftenvusly.] Oh, I 
have already. 

^Iiss SiLLERTOX, Good-by, Trotter. 

^Iiss GoDESBY. Don't forget we're booked 
with you at Sherry's. 

Trotter. Whose treat? 

^Iiss GoDESBY. Oh ! Yours, of course — 

Trotter. I say, why can't I stay? I won't 
interfere. 

Mrs. Hunter. Oh, do stay, Mr. Trotter! 

Miss Godesby. Oh, do stay! 

[Suggesting by her tone that he mustn't dare to 
remain. 

Clar.\. Good ! 

[Trotter remains, and they all setile themselves 
again for a long stay. 

Mrs. Hunter. By the way, you were speaking 
just now of your winter frocks. It occurs to me — 



THE CLIMBERS 91 

of course I don't know as I really want to dispose 
of them, but — er — • 

\She hesitates purposely. 

Miss Godesby. Oh, would you ? \Rising^ she 
takes a chair nearer to Mrs. Hunter.] You dear 
thing ! 

Mrs. Hunter. The dresses are no use to us 
now, and when we're out of mourning — thefll 
be out of style. You could wear Jess' things 
perfectly, Julia. 

Miss Sillerton. And even something of yours 
could be made over for us. 

Mrs. Hunter. But I'm so much older than 
you ! 

Miss Sillerton. [Thoughtlessly.] Yes, but you 
never dress appropriately to your age. 

Clara. [Laughing delightedly.] That's pretty 
good ! 



91 THE CLIMBERS 

MiS5 SiLiEKTON. [5atv5 herself.] You know 
what I mean, you always look so youikfu!, you 
can't dress any older. 

Mrs. HuNiEii. [is!?oM'«^.] Clara, dear, go up- 
stairs and have Tompson bring down my Worth 
dress and Jess' Do-.icet and your Paquin. [Sh<f 
goes wiih Clara io the doer, Riy^ii. .:nd then uhis- 
pen to lur.] If you remember, don't tell what we 
paid — we ought to get nearly double out of these 
drls — and warn Tompson not to be surprised at 
an\*thing she hears. 

[Miss GoDESBY zrj Miss Sillerion c.v. 
glances. Clak.\ ^c- :c^^. 

Mrs. HrxTER. It seer.:s as if I had no further 
interest in clothes. an\"v\-3y. 

Miss GoDESBY. Don't say that. Every one 
I've seen this aftemooQ is wiWIy aithusiastic 
over your mourning. 



THE CLIMBERS 93 

Mrs. Hunter. Well, I went straight to Madame 
O'Hoolihan aiul gave her earte blank! 

Miss GoDESin'. 1 wouldn't like to be the ice 
man when your bill comes in ! — and clothes 
abroad are so much cheaper, 

Mrs. Hunter. [Thoughtlessly.] Oh, half! 

Miss Godesbv. [Quickly.] You see you'll be 
doing us a really great favor letting us have 
some of your things ! 

Mrs. Hunter. [Realizing her ucarly jatal 
error.] Oh! Oh, yes — but — er — I must say 
that ice found prices while in Paris this year 
rather atrocious! 

[Cl.\ra reenters Right. 

Cl.\ra. [5/^^//6\] O dear! It breaks my 
heart not to wear my ball dress, my dear Julia; 
it was designed specially for me. I told Marie 
to put it on, mama; my clothes fit her perfectly, 



94 THE CLIMBERS 

and I thought it would show so much better what 
it is. 
Mrs. Hunter. Here they are. 

\Rises as Tompson enters Right. 
ToMPSON. Mrs. Hunter's reception gown. 

[Displaying it. 
Clara. Oh, this is sl beauty! 
[She takes the costume and drapes it over a 
chair. Miss Godesby and Miss Siller- 
ton come closer to examine. 
Mrs. Hunter. Tompson. — [Taking her to 
one side, whispers.] — I forget ; do you remember 
what I paid for this dress? 

Tompson. [Whispers back.] One hundred and 
sixty dollars, madam. 

Mrs. Hunter. Oh, yes. Don't say any- 
thing. [Returning to the others.] Do you 
like it? 



THE CLIMBERS 95 

Miss SiLLERTON. Perfectly lovely! \\Atihe 

\ same 
Miss Godesby. Immensely. It's great \] n^^^ 

Mrs. Hunter. [Hesitates.] I forget just what I 
paid for it, but I believe it vi^as two hundred dollars. 

[Clara half exclaims in astonishment, hut on 
being pinched surreptitiously on the arm by 
Mrs. Hunter she grasps the situation and 
starts in to do her share. 

Clara. Oh, no, mama ! I'm sure it was more 
than that ! 

Mrs. Hunter. Well, perhaps it was two — 
twenty or two — twenty-five. 

Trotter. That's cheap, isn't it? 

Miss Godesby. Shut up. 

[Tompson's jace is always a perfect blank ^ 
showing no expression or surprise; she has 
lived with Mrs. Hunter for many years and 
^^ knows her business,''^ 



96 THE CLIMBERS 

Miss Godesby. [/« a very difjerent tone of 
voice, influenced by the big price. \ Of course, I 
see it's made of the best material. But it isn't 
my color. 

Mrs. Hunter. It's the very latest shade. 

Miss Godesby. Yes, I know; but I think as 
you said a little while ago, perhaps it is a trifle 
too old for me. 

Mrs. Hunter. I might let you have it for a 
little less; say one hundred and eighty. 

Miss Godesby. Thank you very much. I'll 
think it over. 

Miss Sillerton. What's the other? 

Clara. This is a dinner dress of Jess'. 

[Holding it up to her own waist. 

Miss Sillerton. [Carried away by the dress.] 
Oh, lovely, — perfectly charming, — an adorable 
gown ! 



THE CUMBERS 97 

[Miss Godesby pulls her arm and tries to make 
her less enthusiastic. 

Miss Godesby. [To Clara and Mrs. Hunter.] 
Excuse me. 

[She takes Miss Sillerton to one side and whis- 
pers in her ear. 

Miss Sillerton. [Aloud.] I can't help it. 
I'm crazy about the dress! 

[Meanwhile Mrs. Hunter and Tompson have 
whispered together. 

Mrs. Hunter. They said themselves this was 
the most successful frock they turned out this 
autumn. 

Miss Sillerton. And how much is this one? 

Mrs. Hunter. [Very quickly, trying not to 
speak consciously.] This was two hundred and 
seventy-five. 

[Clara bites her lips in surprise and winks 



98 THE CLIMBERS 

visibly to Tompson, who gives no sign and is 
otherwise imperturbable. 

Miss Sillerton. [To Miss Godesby, looking 
hard at her.] My dear, your hat pin is coming out ! 

Miss Godesby. [Looking hard at her.] No, 
it isn't; it's always like that. 

Miss Sillerton. [Going closer to her, whispers.] 
Which does that mean? I forget! 

Miss Godesby. It's a gouge! 

Miss Sillerton. I can't help it ; I can't 
resist. 

Mrs. Hunter. [Whispers to Clara.] She's 
going to take it; I wish I'd asked more. 

Miss Sillerton. Mrs. Hunter, I'll take the 
dinner dress! I'm crazy about it! 

Mrs. Hunter. I'm glad to have you have it; 
I'm glad to be able to do you, in a way, a favor. 

[Marie at this moment enters dressed in the 



THE CLIMBERS 99 

most exquisite hall dress of the very latest 
fashion and looks extremely lovely. 
Clara. Here's mine! I could cry to think 
I'll never wear it! 
Marie. Voila, madame! 
[A short silence, while the women sit down and 

drink in the gown. 
Miss Sillerton. [I71 a subdued voice of awed 
admiration.'] Beautiful! 
Miss Godesby. Great! 

Trotter. [To Miss Godesby.] Pm stuck on 
the girl; introduce me ! She's out of sight ! 
[Mrs. Hunter sighs long and loud, — a sigh of 
appreciation and admiration. Marie stands 
in the centre of the stage facing the 
audience. 
Miss Godesby. May we see her back? 
Clara. Her entire back, if she turns around! 



100 THE CLIMBERS 

Mrs. Hunter. Turn around, Marie. 

Marie. 0«/*, madame. 

\S]ic turns her hack — the dress is cut extremely 
in the back. 

Miss Sillerton. Oh! 

Miss Godesby. Rather! 

Mrs. Hunter. The way everything is made 
this year. 

Miss Godesby. I'm afraid my back is rather 
full of bones. 

Clara. They told us in Paris, bones were 
coming in! [She takes a large American beauty 
rose jrom a vase on tJic piano and slips it doivn 
Marie's back so that tJic dress seems much less 
d6collet6.] There, never too late lo mend ! 

Miss Godesby. How much is this one? 

[Miss Godesby and Miss Sillerton examine 
the dress. 



THE CLIMBERS loi 

Clara. [Whispers to Mrs. Hunter.] You paid 
two hundred for it! 

Mrs. Hunter. Three hundred dollars. It is 
really superb. 

Miss Sillerton. [Pulling Miss Godesby 
around quickly.] My dear, your hat pin is coming 
out! 

Miss Godesby. Don't be absurd! 

Miss Sillerton. What? 

Miss Godesby. It's my turn, sit down; you 
got the last! You won't mind my being frank, 
Mrs. Hunter? 

Mrs. Hunter. [On the defensive.] Certainly 
not. 

Miss Godesby. I think the price is too much. 

Trotter. Oh, go on, pay it! 

Miss Godesby, Will you sign the check? 

Trotter. Excuse me! 



I02 THE CLIMBERS 

Clara. I'd give twice that if only I could wear 
it to one ball this winter! 

Mrs. Hunter. I wouldn't part with it for a 
penny less. I couldn't afford to. 

\The manners and voices of all become a little 
strained. 

Miss Godesby. That is of course your affair. 

Mrs. Hunter. [Politely.^ We needn't keep 
Marie any longer, at any rate, need we? You 
can go, Marie, and you too, Tompson. 

[Clara and Mrs. Hunter help place the other 
dresses on Tompson's arms. 

Miss Sillerton. [To Miss Godesby, on the 
opposite side of the room, in a lowered voice.] I'll 
take it; I'm wiUing to pay that. 

Miss Godesby. Don't you dare interfere! I 
want the gown, but I know she'll come down, — 
if she doesn't, I'll make a bluff at going. Then 



THE dJMlil'.RS 103 

if slit* sticks to luT price, I'll conu; hiick and 
IKiy it. 

[They turn to Mrs. IIi)Nri:R. 
Miss Sim.iiimon. Oii, Mrs. Ilunlcr, may I sec 
my (irt'ss just one moint minute? 
Mrs. IIiinii;k. Certainly. 

\Slic (uul ("i.AUA (oiHc tnuk with the, dress. 

Makim. \ra 'I'oMi'SON by tlic (toitr at l<iyjii.\ 

Vitcf Come! ('(jme! Jordan 'ave stole ze 

])liot()|/,ra,|)li machine of Mei'S Clara,, and lie make 

now one |)i}.^slier of me in /a- dress! 

ySmilui^ niisrliicvoiisly, ddii^htcd, she goes 

out Right. 
Miss Sii.miki'on. 'i'liank you. 

[.S7/6' leaves her dress. 
Mrs. IltiNi'i'iR. Take this too, Tompson. 
ToMi'SON. Yes, madam. 
[Mrs. HiiNiKR speaks to Tompson, aside^ and 



104 THE CLIMBERS 

Clara, near them, watches the two visitors out 
of the corner oj her eye. 
Miss Godesby. [Aside to Miss Sillerton.] 
I'll leave my muff; that'll be a good excuse to come 
back. 

Trotter. [^4/^^ in a lowered voice to Miss 
Godesby.] Dodo! 

[ToMPSON goes out Right. 
[Mrs. Hunter and Clara come back. 
Miss Godesby. You really couldn't take less 
than three hundred? 

Mfs. Hunter. I wish I could if only for your 
own sake; but I really couldn't in justice to myself. 
Miss Godesby. I'm very sorry — and I'm 
afraid we must be going now. 

Mrs. Hunter. [Not believing they will go.] 
Oh, must you? Well, it was very kind of you to 
come. 



THE CUMBERS 105 

[Miss G odes by leaves her mufj upon the table 

at the Lejt. 
Miss Sillerton. [Shakes hands with Mrs. 
Hunter.] Good-by. 

[She goes on to Clara. 
[Miss Godksuy conies to shake hands with 

Mrs. Hunter. 
Mrs. Hunter. I think you're making a mis- 
take not to take the clrcss, Julia dear. 

Miss Godesby. Perliaps, but I really can't 
go more than two hundred and fifty. 

[Mrs. Hunter looks surreptitiously at Clara, 
who slyly shakes her head to her 
mother. 
Mrs. Hunter. Oh, quite impossible! 
Miss Godesby. Good-by. 
Mrs. Hunter. Good-h)y. 
Miss Godesby. Good-by, Clara. 



Io6 THE CLIMBERS 

Mrs. Hunter. [Frightened.] Would you like 
to see the dress off? 

Miss Godesby. Oh, my dear, it was as off as I 
would ever Hke to see it. Good-by. 

Mrs. Hunter. Good-by. [Miss Sillerton and 
Miss Godesby get to doorway Left.] You won't 
take it? 

Miss Godesby. Cafi^tf Good-by. 

Clara. [Dryly.] You're forgetting your muffl 

Trotter. Rubber ! 

Miss Godesby. [Coming back jor it.] How 
stupid ! 

[She goes away to the door again in silence, 
which is jull of suspense jor all of them. As 
she reaches the door Mrs. Hunter speaks. 

Mrs. Hunter. Look here, Julia, don't say 
another word; you shall have the dress for two 
hundred and fifty. 



THE CLIMBERS 107 

Miss Godesby. [Rushing back, followed by 
all the others.] You dear 1 I'm afraid you think 
I've been rather nasty! 

Mrs. Hunter. Oh, no, of course business is 
business, and I'd rather you had it than sec it 
wasted on some of our other friends who'd be 
sights in it ! 

Miss Sillerton. Good-by. [Kisses her this 
time.] I haven't said half I feel; you've been in 
my thoughts all these last few days. 

Mrs. Hunter. Thank you, dear. 

[Kisses her. 

Miss Godesby. Shall we send around for the 
dresses in the morning? 

Mrs. Hunter. Or I'll send them. 

Miss Godesby. No, we won't trouble you. 

Miss Sillerton. Good-by! 

Mrs. Hunter and Clara. Good-by! 



I08 THE CLIMBERS 

[Miss Sillerton and Miss Godesby go out 

Lejt, followed by Trotter, who has joined in 

all the good-bys, and upon whom Clara has 

more or less continuously kept her ^^ weather 

eye:' 

Mrs. Hunter. I'm perfectly sure if I'd stuck 

to three hundred, Juha Godesby would have sent 

around when she got home and paid it ! 

Clara. I'm glad you didn't run the risk though, 
for we'll need every cent we can get now. 

[She runs her fingers rapidly over the piano keys. 
[Blanche reenters Right. 
Mrs. Hunter. Why, I thought you'd gone 
long ago. 

Blanche. Jess begged me to stay with her. 
Try to understand her, mother; I think she will 
miss father more than any of us. 

[Jordan enters Lejt. 



THE CLIMBERS 109 

Jordan. Mr. Warden has come back, madam. 

[Warden enters Lejt. 

Warden. Forgive my intruding so soon again, 

but did Mr. Mason leave a letter case of Mr. 

Hunter's here? 

[Blanche begins looking for the case. 

Mrs. Hunter. I haven't seen it; I'll ask the 

servants to look. Excuse me, I'm quite tired out; 

we've been receiving a long visit of condolence. 

[She goes out. Right, with Clara, who links her 

arm in her mothers. 
Blanche. [Finding the case^ which has fallen 
beneath the table.] Here it is. Dear old pocket- 
book — 
[Her voice breaks on the last wordy and turning 
her face away to hide her tears^ she hands him 
the well-worn letter case. 
Warden. Mrs. Sterling, I'm glad they left us 



no THE CUMBERS 

alone, because Mr. Mason said he hadn't been 
able to manage it — to see you alone — and yet he 
^vanted yon only to examine these. They are 
private papers of Mr. Hunter; he thought they 
ought not to be destroyed without being read, and 
yet //('hesitated to read them. We thought tliat chity 
devolved best uiH>n you. [Hr hands Iniik the letter 
cose.] Shall 1 wait and take back the case to Mr. 
^lason with the papers you wish him to have? 

Blanchk. Oh, no, I will send them; I mustn't 
keep you while I read them. I'm always taking 
more of your time than I ought. 

Warpkn. [Speaks icitJi sincerity, but icithout 
any sui:,i:;estio)i of loi'c niakini;.] lUit never as much 
as I want to give you ! Don't forget, Mrs. Sterhng, 
what you promised me at your wedding, — that 
your husband's best man should be your best 
friend. 



THE CLIMB ERti iii 

Ulanciik. And nobody knows what it means to 
a woman, oven a haj)[)ily married woman like me 
— [77rw is spoken with a slight effort, as if 
she is persuading herself that she is a happily 
married woman.] — to have an lionest friend h'kc 
you. It's tliose people who have failed that say 
there is no such thing as a i)latonic friendshi[). 

Warden. We'll prove tliem wrong. 

Blanchk. We will. Good-by, and thank you. 

Warden. And thank you! [Starting to go^ he 
turns.] Sliall I bring that Russian pianist around 
to play for you some day next week? 

Blanche. Do — I want some music. 

Warden. Only let me know what day. [IJe 
goes out Left. Blanche sits by the table and opens 
the case. She looks first at a memoranda and 
reads what is on the outside.] A business memo- 
randa. Lists of bonds. [She opens and looks at 



Iia THE CLIMBERS 

the next paper only a second, and then closes //.] 
This, Mr. Mason will understand better than I. 
[She puts it hack in the pocket case. She finds a 
photograph in the case.] My picture ! — [She looks 
jor others, hut finds none.] — and only mine! Oh, 
father ! . . . [She wipes away tears from her eyes 
so as to see the picture^ which is an old one.] 
Father, I returned your love. [She reads on the 
hack of photograph.] "Blanche, my darling 
daughter, at fourteen years of age!" That's 
mine! that's my own! [And she puts the picture 
a7i'ay separately. SJie takes up a small packet of 
very old love-letters tied with faded old pink tape.] 
Old letters from mother; they must be her loye- 
letters. She shall have them, — they may soften her. 
[She takes up a slip of paper and reads on the out- 
side.] This is something for Mason, too. [She puts 
it back in the case. Slie takes up a sealed envelope, 



THE CUMBERS 113 



hlanh.\ Nothing on it, and sealed. [She looks at it a 
moment, thinking.] Father, did you want this 
opened? If you didn't, why not have destroyed 
it? Ah! I needn't be afraid; you had nothing to 
hide from the world. [Tearing it open, she reads.] 
"I have discovered my son-in-law, Richard Sterling, 
in irregular business dealing. lie is not honest. 
I will watch him as long as I live; but when you 
read this. Mason, keep your eye ui)on him for my 
daughter's sake. He has been warned by me — 
he may never trip again, and her happiness lies 
in ignorance." [She starts, and looks about 
her to make sure she is alotie. She then sits star- 
ing ahead for a Jew seconds; then she speaks.] 
My boy's father dishonest ! Disgrace — he owned 
it — threatening ??iy boy ! It mustn't come 1 
It mustn't ! /'// watch now. [She goes to the fire- 
place, tearing the paper as she crosses the room; 
I 



114 THE CLIMBERS 

she burns the letter; then she gathers up the other 
letters and the pocket case.] He must give me his 
word of honor over Richard's little bed to-night 
that he will do nothing to ever make the boy 
ashamed of bearing his father's name! 

[She watches to see that every piece of the paper 
burnSj as 

THE CURTAIN FALLS 



ACT II 

Christmas Eve; fourteen months later; the 
dining room of the Hunters^ house, which is 
now lived in jointly by the Sterlings and 
Mrs. Hunter and her daughters. It is 
a dark wainscoted room, with curtains of 
crimson brocade. It is decorated with laurel 
roping, mistletoe, and holly, for Christ- 
mas. It is the end of a successful din- 
ner party, fourteen happy and more or less 
congenial persons being seated • at a table, as 
follows: Warden, Ruth, Mason, Clara, 
Trotter, Mrs. Hunter, Blanche, Sterling, 
Miss Sillerton, Mr. Godesby, Jessica, 
Doctor Steinhart, and Miss Godesby. The 
"5 



Ii6 THE CLIMBERS 

room is dark on all sides, only a subdued light being 
shed on the table by two large, full candelabra 
with red shaded candles. As the curtain rises 
the bare backs of the three women nearest the 
footlights gleam out white. Candied jruit and 
other sweetmeats are being passed by jour men 
servants, including Jordan and Leonard. 

Ruth. My dear Blanche, what delicious candy ! 

Miss Sillerton. Isn't it! 

Miss Godesby. Half of the candy offered one 
nowadays seems made of papier-mdchi. 

Mrs. Hunter. [To Miss Godesby.] Julia, 
do tell me how Mr. Tomlins takes his wife's 
divorce ? 

Miss Godesby. He takes it with a grain of salt ! 

Mrs. Hunter. But isn't he going to bring a 
counter suit? 



THE CLIMBERS 117 

Sterling. No. 

Ruth. I hope not. I am an old-fashioned 
woman and don't beHeve in divorce ! 

Miss Godesby. Really! But then you're not 
married ! 

Miss Sillerton. What is the reason for so 
much divorce nowadays? 

Ruth. Marriage is the principal one. 

Blanche. I don't believe in divorce, either. 

Miss Sillerton. My dear, no woman married 
to as handsome a man as Mr. Sterling would. 

Trotter. You people are all out of date! 
More people get divorced nowadays than get 
married. 

Blanche. Too many people do — that's the 
trouble. I meant what I said when I was married 
— "for better, for worse, till death us do part." — 
What is the opera Monday? 



Ii8 THE CLIMBERS 

Trotter. Something of Wagner's. He's a 
Dodo bird! Bores me to death! Not catchy 
enough music for me. 

Mrs. Hunter. You'd adore him if you went 
to Bayreuth. Which was that opera, Clara, we 
heard at Bayreuth last summer? Was it Faust 
or Lohengrin! They play those two so much 
here I'm always getting them mixed! 

Miss Sillerton. Wagner didn't write Faust I 

Mrs. Hunter. Didn't he? I thought he had; 
he's written so many operas the last few seasons! 

Clara. I like Tannhduser, because as soon 
as you hear the "twinkle, twinkle, little stars" 
song, you can cheer up and think of your wraps 
and fur boots. 

Trotter. My favorite operas are San Toy 
and the Roger Brothers, though I saw Florodora 
thirty-six times ! 



THE CLIMBERS 119 

Blanche. Mother would have gone with you 
every one of those thirty-six Florodora times. 
She's not really fond of music. 

Mrs. Hunter. Not fond of music ! Didn't 
I have an oj)era box for four years? 

Trotter. Why doesn't Conried make some 
arrangement with Weber and Fields and introduce 
their chorus into Faust and Carmen? 

Dr. Steinhart. Great idea ! [To Miss 
GoDESBY.] Did you get a lot of jolly 
presents ? 

Miss GoDESBY. Not half bad, especially two 
fine French bulls ! 

[All are laughing and talking together, 

Blanche. What did you get, Mr. Warden? 

Warden. Three copies of ''David Harum," 
two umbrellas, and a cigar case too short for 
my cigars. 



lao THE CLIMBERS 

Miss Godesby. Give it to me for cigarettes I 

Warden. It's too long for cigarettes. Then I 
had something that's either a mouchoir or a hand- 
kerchief case, or for neckties, or shaving papers, 
or something or other. 

Trotter. Yes, I know, I got one of those, too. 

Dr. Steinhart. So did I! 

Blanche. I must start the women; we are 
coming back here to arrange a surprise for you 
men. 

\Shc nods her head in signal to Sterling, and 
rises. All rise. 

Sterling. One moment please. One toast 
on Christmas night! Ned, give us a toast. 

All the Women. [But not in unison.] Oh, yes ! 
A toast! [Ad lib.] 

Warden. [Holding up his glass.] 
Here's to those whom we love! 



THE CLIMBERS. 121 

And to those who love us! 
And to those who love those whom we love 
And to those who love those who love us ! 
All the Men. \Not in unison.] Good! 
Bravo! Bully toast! [Ad lib.] 

[Every one drinks. 
Blanche. One more toast, Dick. [To the 
others.] Christmas Day is our boy's birthday. 
Ruth, Surely ! a toast to Richard ! 
Sterling. Long life to Master Sterling, the 
best boy in the world, and to all his good friends 
at this table. 
The Men. Hear! Hear! 
[All the women speak their next speeches at the 

same time. 
Blanche. [Laughing.] Of course! IVe 
dropped my handkerchief. 

[Ned dives under the table for it. 



122 



THE CLIMBERS 



Miss Sillerton. O dear, my fan! 
Miss Godesby. What a borel I've 
dropped a glove! 
[Steinhart goes under the table for it. 
Clara. Both my gloves gone — I'm 
so sorry ! 

[Godesby goes under the table for them. 
Mrs. Hunter. Dick, please, I've 
dropped my smelling bottle. 
[Trotter and Sterling go under 

the table for it. 
Ruth. My gloves, please, I'm so 
sorry ! 
[Mason goes under the table for them. 
[The speeches of the women are simul- 
taneous, followed by the moveynents 
of the men also, all at the same 
time. 



[All 
together] 



THE CLIMBERS 123 

Blanche. Please don't bother; the servants — 
[Leonard, Jordan, and two extra men start to 

hunt under the table^ too. 
Miss Godesby. Women ought to have every- 
thing they own fastened to them with rubber- 
neck elastics. 

[The meny somewhat flustered, all rise with the 
various articles, and offer them to their respec- 
tive owners. 
[All the women thank the men profusely, 
and apologize at the same time. Sterling 
takes Mrs. Hunter out at hack, j allowed 
by all the other couples, all talking. Ruth 
and Mason lag behind. 
Ruth. [To Blanche, who with Warden 
waits for Ruth and Mason to pass.] I want just 
a minute with Mr. Mason, Blanche. [Blanche 
and Warden pass out before her. Ruth is 



124 THE CLIMBERS 

alone with Mason. She speaks as if she were 
carrying on a conversation that had been interrupted. 
She speaks in a lowered voice, indicating the private 
nature of what she has to say.] I sent him impera- 
tive word yesterday I must have the bonds. I 
told him I wanted one to give to his wife for Christ- 
mas. He pretends to-day he didn't receive this 
letter, but he must have. 

Mason. This makes the third time there has 
been some excuse for not giving you the bonds? 
Ruth. Yes, and this letter he says he didn't 
get was sent to his office by hand. 
Mason. I'll speak to him before I leave. 

[They go out at hack. 

[As they pass out, Jordan stands by the doorway 

holding the curtains back. The other three men 

stand stiffly at the Right. As Mason and 

Ruth go out, the Servants relax and exchange 



THE CLIMBERS 125 

glances, each giving a little laugh out loud, 
except Jordan. During the jollowing dialogue 
they empty the table preparatory to arranging 
the room for the Christmas tree. 
Jordan. Sh ! A very dull dinner, not an 
interesting word spoke. / 

First Footman. The widder seemed chipper 
like ! 

Leonard. And did you get on to the old 
lady's rig-out; mourning don't hang very heavy 
on her shoulders. 

[One chair is moved back. 
Jordan. [To First Footman.] Get the coffee. 
[He goes out Right. To Leonard.] Get the 
smoking lay-out!. 

[Leonard goes out Right and brings back a 
silver tray laden with cigarettes, cigar boxes, 
and a burning alcohol lamp. 



126 THE CLIMBERS 

Leonard. If you ask me, I think she's going 
to put a bit more on the matrimonial mare if 
she gets the chance. 

Jordan. It's none of your business. You're 
Mrs. Sterling's servant now. 

Leonard. Good thing, too; it was a happy 
day for us when they moved in. 

First Footm-\n. [Reenters with the coffee.] 
Say, did you see how that young feller over there 
[Motioning to the lower right-hand corner oj the 
table.] shovelled the food in? 

Leonard. And the way he poured down the 
liquid — regular hog ! My arm's tired a-fiUing 
of his glass. 

[And he drinks a glass of champagne which 
has been left untouched by a guest. 

Jordan. He ain't nobody ; he hasn't any money ; 
he was just asked to fill up. He's one of these 



THE CLIMBERS 127 

yere singing chaps what's asked to pass the time 
after dinner with a song or two gratis. This 
dinner'll last him for food for a week ! 

\T}ieir manners suddenly change as the men 
reenter and take seats about the two ends of 
the table. Sterling, Mason, and Doctor 
down Left form one group. The other men are 
in a group between the window and the other 
end. On entering Sterling speaks. 
Sterling. Jordan, for heaven's sake, give 
us something to see by! You can't tell which 
end of your cigar to light in this confounded 
woman's candle-light. If I had my way, I'd have 
candelabras made of Welsbachs ! . 
Trotter. Bright idea. Sterling. 
[Sterling, laughing^ joins his group, who 
laugh gently with him. Jordan turns on 
the electric light. The servants pass the 



128 THE CLIMBERS 

cojjee, liqueurs^ and the cigars and cigarettes. 

Meanwhile the following dialogue takes place, 

the men beginning to talk at once on their 

entrance. 

Sterling. Mr. Mason, I'd like to ask your 

honest opinion on something if you'll give it me. 

Mason. Certainly. 

Sterling. This Hudson Electric Company. 
Dr. Steinhart. Oh! Dropped fearfully to- 
day. 

Sterling. But that can happen easily with 
the best thing. To-morrow — 

Mason. [Interrupting.] To-morrow it will drop 
to its very bottom I 
Sterling. I don't beheve it. 
Dr. Steinhart. Surely, Mr. Mason, the men 
who floated that are too clever to ruin themselves. 
Mason. They're out of it. 



THE CLIMBERS 129 

Sterling. Out of it! 

Mason. They got out last week quietly. 

Sterling. But — 

Mason. Mark my words, the day after to-morrow 
there'll be several fooHsh people ruined, and not 
one 0} the promoters of that company will lose a 
penny I 

Sterling. I don't believe it ! 

[The crowd at the other end of the table, who 
have been listening to a tale from Trotter, 
laugh heartily. 

Trotter. [Delighted with his success.] I'm no 
Dodo bird ! 

[Warden leaves this group casually and joins 
the other. 

Mason. [To Sterling.] Don't tell me youWe 
in it? 

Sterling. [Ugly.] Yes, I am in it! 

K 



I30 THE CLIMBERS 

\ 
Mason. Not much ? 

Sterling. Yes, much! 

Warden. Much what? 

Sterling. Oh, nothing ; we were just discussing 
stocks. 

Warden. And up there they're discussing 
Jeffreys and Fitzsimmons. 

Mason. Listen, Dick, after a Hfelong experience 
in Wall Street, I defy any broker to produce one 
customer who can show a profit after three con- 
secutive years of speculation. 

Sterling. Oh, you're too conservative; noth- 
ing venture, nothing have. Excuse me, I think 
Jeffreys and Fitzsimmons more amusing topics. 
Come along. 

[Sterling and Dr. Steinhart join the other 
group Right. , 

Mason. [To Warden.] You're Sterling's broker. 



THE CLIMBERS 131 

Warden. No, not for over a year. 

Mason. Then you can't tell me how deep he 
is in this Hudson Electric swindle? 

Warden. Is he in it at all? 

Mason. Yes, he says, deep. 

Warden. I suspected it yesterday. 

Mason. But what with — his wife's money ? 

Warden. That went fourteen months ago. I 
put him on his feet then, gave him some 
tips that enabled him to take this house with 
her mother, so that with his regular law busi- 
ness he ought to have done very well, but 
his living could not leave one cent over to 
speculate with. 

Mason. \To himself.] Good God! 

Warden. I know what you^re afraid of. 

Mason. No! 

Warden. Yes. The reason I'm no longer 



132 THE CLIMBERS 

his broker is he was ashamed to let me know 
about his dealings. 

Mason. But you don't mean you think he'd 
actually steal 1 

Warden. His aunVs money? Why not? He 
did his wije^sl 

Mason. Does he handle any one else's affairs? 

Warden. I know he takes care of that Godesby 
woman's property. 

Mason. And she wouldn't hold her tongue if 
a crash came! 

Warden. Not for a minute! Is Miss Hunter 
suspicious ? 

Mason. Yes. Does Sterling realize that to- 
morrow he will most probably be a ruined cheat? 

Warden. Very likely. 

Mason. If he made up his mind to-night it 
was all up with him, he might do — what ? 



THE CLIMBERS 133 

Warden. Run away with whatever money he 
has left, or kill himself. I don't know if he's 
enough of a coward for that or not. There's one 
hold on him — he loves his wife. 

Mason. Which will make him all the more 
ashamed of discovery. Do you believe she 
suspects ? 

Warden. Not a bit. She loves him too 
dearly. 

Mason. Can we do anything? 

Warden. Nothing but watch him closely till 
the people go. Then force him to make a clean 
breast of it, so we can all know where we stand ; 
how we can best protect his aunt from ruin and 
his wife and boy from pubKc disgrace. 

Mason. He is watching us. 

Warden. He knows I know him; we must be 
careful. He's coming toward us. \H.e then speaks 



134 THE CLIMBERS 

in a different tone, but no louder.] You're certain of 
the trustworthiness of your information? 

Mason. Absolutely. Every man left in that 
concern will be ruined before the 'Change closes 
after to-morrow. [Sterling has joined them in 
time to hear the end of Mason's speech. Mason 
continues.] I am telling Warden what I told you 
about the Hudson Electric Company. 

Sterling. Can't you talk of something pleas- 
anter ? 

[Blanche reenters at back. On her entrance 
all the men rise. The servants finish prepar- 
ing the room for the tree. 

Blanche. I'm very sorry — I really can't let 
you men stay here any longer. 

All THE Men. Why not? How's that? [Ad lib.] 

Blanche. You know we want to get this room 
ready for Santa Claus ! Dick ! [She goes to her 
husband. All (he men go out at back in a group led 



THE CLIMBERS 135 

hy Warden and Mason. They are all talking and 
laughing. Blanche is left alone with her husband.'] 
What is this Aunt Ruth has been teUing me about 
not being able to get some bonds from you? 

Sterling. Oh, nothing. I forgot to send them 
up to her, that's all. 

Blanche. But she says she sent three times. 

Sterling. One time too late to get into the 
vault; and the other, her letter was mislaid — 
I mean not given to me. 

Blanche. You haven't broken your word to 
me? 

Sterling. What if I had? 

Blanche. I would let the law take its course. 

Sterling. You must love me very little. 

Blanche. I live with you. First you robbed 
me of my respect for you ; then you dried up my 
heart with neglect. 



136 THE CLIMBERS 

Sterling. And our boy? 

Blanche. Your blood runs in his veins; your 
shame and disgrace would be a fearful warning to 
him. It might kill me; but never mind, if it 
saved him. 

Sterling. Oh, well, I haven't broken my word ! 
So you needn't worry. I've been honest enough. 

Blanche. \Wiih a long sigh of relief.] Oh ! 
I hope so! 

Mrs. Hunter. [Appearing in doorway at 
back.] The men are in the drawing-room — shall 
we come here? 

Blanche. Yes, we'll bring the others, mother. 
Come, Dick. 

[She goes out with Mrs. Hunter at back. 

Sterling. [Goes to door Right, opens it, and 
calls.] Leonard! 

[Leonard enters Right. 



THE CLIMBERS 137 

Leonard. Yes, sir? 

Sterling. Go up to my library at the top of 
the house, get a railroad guide you will find there, 
and bring it down and put it on the table in the 
hall just outside the drawing-room door. 
Leonard. Yes, sir. 

Sterling. Then go to my room and pack my 
bag and dressing case. Do you understand? 
Leonard. Yes, sir. 
\The women are heard singing "Follow the Man 

from Cook's,^' and gradually coming nearer. 
Sterling. Be quick, and say nothing to any one. 
Leonard. Yes, sir. 

[He goes out quickly Right. Sterling goes tip 
stage and stands beside the door at back as the 
women dance in, singing "Follow the Man 
from Cook's.'' They are led by Clara, with 
Mrs. Hunter on the end. Blanche and Ruth 



I3S THE CUMBEKS 

joUo'd' u\\^»;<-. fu-'i dcifwhic:. The others dam'e 

aro:ir,<: ihc :hc.ir$ jvJ Cl,\ra ju^"<ps en jmJ 

0^ vv;<- <>; Ihcrr. : ihh sfef's ihe ns!, i.'he :\:Jk 

ai U, Sterlixo ^o^c>' ^"'^ ^'^' ^"\ ;-. Il;e Ser- 

\AN'TS crJer Kii^hi. 

Cl.\ra. I uon't care for this dinner ^^virty at 

all. TViO women are all the time being chased 

away from the men ! 1 prefer being with Mr. 

Trotter. Don't you. mama .^ 

Miss SiLLEKiox. He dc\rsn"t seem able to give 
a dinner party any more without you to chapcione, 
Mrs. Hunter. 

Blanch K. Mother, how can you? 
Mks. HiNTFK. Oh. I don't know as it's cA<i^«r- 
Oftifsi:: I like Mr. Trotter very much. 

Miss SiiXERTON. But he's such a little cad. 
I tried to give him a lift, but he was t<.x^ heavy for 
me. 



THE CLIMBERS 139 

Clara. Oii, well, you ought just to protend it's 
the money in iiis poeket makes him so heavy; V 
then youM luul him dead easy. 

\McanwhUc the Skrvants have arranged the 

table, taken out tJie extra leaves and made it 

square, and left the room. TJiey now reenter, 

bringing in a gorgeously deeorated and ligJited 

Christf}his tree. There is at onee a loud 

eJ!orus of deliglited approval jrom the icomen. 

The Servants place tJie tree in the centre 

oj the table. The women icJio are sitting ri^e 

and come near to e.vami>!e the tree. 

Ruth. What a beautiful tree, Blanche! 

Blanche. The boy is to have it to-morrow 

morning — it's really his tree ! [Tompson brings 

in a large basket containing srcrn small stockings 

and si.Y small boys' socks — very sinall stockings 

attd very small socks. They arc made of bright and 



140 THE CLIMBERS 

difjerent colors and are stuffed into absurd, bulgy 
shapes^ There's a name on each one. Come 
along now ! 

[Taking out a little sock. The women crowd around 
the basket and each hangs a sock on the tree, Miss 
GoDESBY and Clara standing on chairs. 

Clara. [Reading the name on her sock.] Oh ! 
mme's for Mr. Mason. What's in it, Blanche? 

Blanche. I really can't tell you. I asked the 
clerk where I bought it what it was for, and he 
said he didn't know; it was a ''Christmas present." 

Miss Godesby. [Laughing.] Oh, I know the 
kind! Mine's for Howard Godesby. What's 
his present? 

Blanche. A silver golf marker. 

Miss Godesby. But he doesn't play golf! 

Blanche. Well, he ought to; it'll keep him 
young. 



THE CLIMBERS 141 

Clara. It will be all right, anyway, Julia! 
You can give it away to some one next Christmas. 

Miss Sillerton. What's in Mr. Trotter's? 

Blanche. Oh, that present has almost been 
my death! Men are so hard to find things for! 
I had put in a gold pencil for his key chain, but 
to-night while we were eating our oysters, I saw 
him show a beauty that his mother had given him 
this morning ! So I whispered to Jordan between 
the soup and fish to change Mr. Ryder's name to 
Mr. Trotter's stocking, and put Mr. Trotter's 
name on the one that had a cigarette case in it. 
I sneaked a message down to Dick on my dinner 
card — was it all right ? — and he sent back word 
during the game that Trotter only smoked cigars; so 
before the ices were passed I shuffled Mr. Trotter's 
and Mr. Mason's names, — I'd given Mason the 
cigar case, — and just as Jordan signalled to me the 



142 THE CLIMBERS 

transfer had been successfully effected, I heard 
Trotter casually observe he'd been obHged to 
give up smoking entirely — doctors orders! 

[They laugh punctiliously, rather bored by 
Blanche's long account. 

Mrs. Hunter. Isn't the tree stunning? 

Clara. [Getting down jrom her chair.] It 
makes the table look hke one of Mr. Trotter's 
** informal Httle dinners." 

Miss Godesby. They say he has one of those 
men who arrange shop windows decorate his 
dinner table for him! 

Blanche. The only time I ever dined with 
him I was really ashamed to go home with my 
dinner favor — it was so gorgeous ! And there 
were such big bunches of violets in the finger 
bowls there wasn't room for your httle finger. 

Miss Godesby. You never saw such a lot of 



THE CLIMBERS 143 

decoration! The game have ribbon garters on 
their legs, and even the raw oysters wear corsage 
bouquets! \To Mrs. Hunter.] I hope you don't 
mind what we're saying, Mrs. Hunter? 

Mrs. Hunter. \0^cnded.\ I must say I do 
mind very much. — \A pause.] — because — [A 
second pause.] — well, I am going to marry Mr. 
Trotter — [All, not believing her, laugh merrily.] 
You are all very rude ! 

Miss Godesby. Not on the level ! Not Trotter/ 

Miss Sillerton. Not really/ 

Blanche. No, no, of course not! 

[She rings bell. 

Mrs. Hunter. But I am/ And I thought 

here at my daughter's table, among my own friends 

(I was allowed to name the guests to-night), I 

could count on good wishes and congratulations. 

[There is a dead silence. 



144 THE CLIMBERS 

[The musicians, a band of Neapolitan players, 

enter and take their places in a recess at Left. 

Blanche. [To the musicians.] You may play. 

[To Jordan, who has brought in the Neapolitans.] 

We are ready, Jordan. 

[Jordan goes out at back. 

[Ruth goes to Blanche. 

[The guitars and mandolins begin a popular song. 

Miss Godesby. [To Mrs. Hunter.] Oh, well, 

Mrs. Hunter, we were only codding! There's 

lots of good in Trotter, and I'm sure you'll bring 

it out. Good luck! 

[Shaking her hand. 
Ruth. [To Blanche, aside.] You won't allow 
this! 

Blanche. Certainly not. [Blanche crosses to 
her mother and they go to one side together; Blanche 
speaks in a lowered voice.] You've amazed and 



THE CLIMBERS 145 

shocked me! I will not tolerate such a thing; 
we'll talk it over to-night. 

\S}ie leaves her and returns to her guests, Mrs. 

Hunter standing where she is left, biting 

her lips and almost crying with rage and 

mortification. 

Miss Godesby. [Before the musicians, to 

Blanche as she joins her.] I'm crazy about these 

men, Mrs. Sterling ; they play so awfully well — 

especially that one with the lovely legs! 

[Jordan pulls aside the curtains at back and 
all the men reenter except Warden. They 
all join hands and dance around the tree, 
singing with the musicians; they break, and 
go up to a side table, where everything to 
drink is displayed. Warden enters at this 
moment and motions to Mason and leads him 
down stage. 

L 



;I46 THE CLIMBERS 

Warden. There was a railway guide in the 
hall — that's what he went there for; he's going 
to run away to-night. 

Mason. How'll we prevent it? 

Warden. First, we must break up this 
party ! 

Mason. How? 

Warden. I haven't quite thought yet. Go back 
to the others ; send Jordan to me ; don't lose sight 
of Dick. Jordan! \He takes him aside.] I want 
you to go out of this room for a minute, pretend 
to go upstairs, then come back and tell Mrs. 
Sterhng, loud enough for the others to hear you, 
that Master Richard is very ill, and say the maid 
is frightened. 

Jordan. [Hesitating. 1 But — 

Warden. [Quickly and firmly.'] Do as I tell 
you. I am responsible for whatever happens. 



THE CLIMBERS 147 

[Jordan goes out at hack. The men and women 
are laughing and talking about the sideboard. 

Blanche. Come now, everybody! Let's have 
the presents. Dick, you know you are to be 
Santa Claus. 

[Sterling looks nervously at his watch. 

Sterling. Just a minute, dear ! Ned ! [Takes 
Warden to one side. The women move about 
the tree, hunting for their own names on the stock- 
ings on the table at the foot 0} the tree.] Ned, I've 
been suddenly called out of town on business — 
must catch the eleven-twenty train. I don't want 
to break up the party, so you empty the tree, 
and when the time comes for me to go, I'll slip 
out. 

Warden. And when your guests go? 

Sterling. Oh, then you can explain for me. 
[Jordan enters at back. 



148 THE CLIMBERS 

Jordan. \To Blanche.] Beg pardon, madam, 
but Master Richard is very ill. 

Blanche. [Alarmed.] Richard! 

Jordan. Yes, ma'am, and Droves is very 
frightened, ma'am. 

Ruth. Richard ill? 

[All give exclamations of surprise and regret and 
sympathy. 

Blanche. My little boy ill? Excuse me, I 
must go to him. 

[She hurries out at back. Ruth speaks to the 
musicians, who stop playing. 

Sterling. [Moved.] My boy ill — why, I can't 
— I can't — 

Warden. ''Can't" what? 

Sterling. How can I go away? 

Warden. Surely you won't let business take 
you away from your boy who may be dying. 



THE CLIMBERS 149 

Sterling. No! I won't go! I'll face it out! 
I can't leave my boy like this — 

Ruth. [Coming to St?:rling.] I'm going to 
take these women away ; tell Blanche not to give 
them a thought. Their evening up to now has 
been charming. 

[During Ruth's speech, Warden has spoken 

aside with Mason. 
Warden. [Aside to Mason.] Don't let Miss 
Hunter go. 

Ruth. [To the other guests.] Come to the 
drawing-room. 

Mrs. Hunter. I was crazy to see what was in 
my stocking. 

[All pass out talking, expressing conventional 
sympathy on account oj Richard, hut evi- 
dently resenting the breaking up oj the party. 
Sterling and Warden are left alone in the 



150 THE CLIMBERS 

room. Sterling moves to go up to hack; 
Warden interrupts him. 

Warden. [To Sterling.] Where are you 
going? 

Sterling. To my boy and my wife. 

Warden. Wait a minute; I want to speak to 
you. 

Sterling. Speak to me later ; I can't wait now. 

Blanche. [OJj stage, at back, excitedly.] 
Jordan ! [She enters, excited, half hysterical.] 
Jordan ! Where is Jordan ? It was a he ! What 
did he mean ? Richard is sleeping sweetly. The 
maid knows nothing of being alarmed! Where 
is Jordan? 

[She starts to go toward the door Right. 

Warden. [Stops her.] Mrs. Sterhng, he had 
nothing to do with it ! / told Jordan to say what 
he said. 



THE CLIMBERS 151 

[Blanche turns and looks at Warden in aston- 
ishment. 
Sterling. [Stunned and at once suspicious.] 

What? 

Blanche. But — 

Warden. Forgive me for so cruelly alarming 
you ; it was the only way I could think of for get- 
ting rid at once of your guests 1 

Sterling. [Angry.] You'll interfere once too 
often in the affairs of tliis house. 

Blanche. [Indignant.] But what excuse can 
you make, Mr. Warden? 

Warden. Will you be so good as to ask Miss 
Hunter and Mr. Mason to come here? They 
will explain what I have done, partly, and your 
husband will tell you the rest when you come 

back. 

[Sterling sneers aloud. 



152 THE CLIMBERS 

Blanche. I don't understand, I don't under- 
stand. 

\She goes out at back. 

Sterling. Well, I do understand, at least 
enough. 

Warden. Good ! That spares me a very dis- 
agreeable speech. 

Sterling. No, it doesn't! Come out with it! 
What is it you want ? What is it you've found out ? 

Warden. From betraying a trust, you've come, 
in less than two years, to an outright embezzlement. 

Sterling. Speak out — give us facts ! 

Warden. You've stolen your aunt's fortune. 

Sterling. Prove that! 

Warden. It's her money that's lost in the Hudson 
Electric Company! 

Sterling. Prove it! 

Warden. Easy enough, to-morrow. 



THE CLIMBERS 153 

Sterling. You've got to excuse your action 
to-night or he kicked out of my house ! 

Warden. \StYong.\ Isn't what I say the 
truth ? 

Sterling. [Equally strong.] No! And now 
get out ! 

Warden. [Looks at his watch.] I'll not leave 
this house till it's too late for you to take that 
eleven-twenty. 

Sterling. [More ugly.] Yes, you will and 
mighty — 

Warden. No, Pll not! 

[He is interrupted by the entrance of Blanche, 
Ruth, and Mason. 

Warden. [To Blanche.] I hope you forgive 
me now — 

Blanche. [Pathetically.] You did right; I 
thank you. 



154 THE CLIMBERS 

Sterling. \Hearthroken.\ Blanche — without 
hearing a word from me ! 

Blanche. No, I've come now to hear what 
you have to say. 

\A deep-toned dock strikes eleven. Sterling, at 
the second stroke, takes out his watch with 
a hurried movement. 

Warden. [Quickly.] Eleven o'clock. 

Sterling. I wish Warden to leave the room. 

Blanche. \Firmly.] And I wish him to stay. 

[A short pause. 

Sterling. Well, of what am I accused? 

Warden. Nobody wants to accuse you. We 
want you to make a clean breast of it. 

Sterling. Don't you talk to me ; let my wife 
do the talking if you want me to answer. 

Blanche. Sit down, Aunt Ruth. [Ruth sits by 
the table, Warden stands at back. Sterling stands 



THE CLIMBERS 155 

at Right and Blanche and Mason sit near the 
centre.] Aunt Ruth asks you to give her a true 
account of her trust in you. Mr. Mason is here 
as her friend and my father's. 

Sterling. I haven't said I betrayed her trust. 
I told her she should have the bonds she wants 
to-morrow. 

Blanche. But will she? That's what I want 
to know. I ask you if you haven't her bonds, 
to tell us here now, — tell us, who have been and 
must be still the best friends, perhaps the only 
friends, you can have. Tell us where we all 
stand — are we the only ones to suffer or are there 
others who will perhaps be less generous in their 
treatment of you? Tell us now while there is 
time perhaps to save us from public scandal, from 
the disgrace which would stamp your wife as the 
wife of a thief, and send your boy out into the world 



IS6 THE CLIMBERS 

the son of a convict cheat. [.S7/r breaks down, but 
in a moment controls herselj. There is no answer. 
Sterling sinks into a eJiair, his amis on the table, 
his head on his arms. A moment\s silence.] Vou 
love me — I know that. I appeal to your love; 
let your love of me persuade you to do what I ask. 
I ask it for your sake and for mine I Tell us here 
the truth now — it will spare me much to-morrow, 
perhaps — me whom you love — for love of me — 

Sterling. [/;/ an agony.] I'm afraid I'll lose 
you — 

Blanche. No, I'll promise to stand by you if 
you'll only tell us all the truth. 

Sterling. [In a low, shamed voice.] I'll 
tell you J but not now — not before all tliese 
others. 

[Blanche looks up questioningly to Mason, 
Mason shakes his head. 



THE CLIMBERS 157 

Blanche. It must be now, Dick. 
Sterling. No! no! I can't look you in the 
face and tell it ! Let me tell it to you alone, later, 
in the dark. 
[Blanche looks up questioningly to Mason. lie 

shakes his head. 
Blanche. It must be now. 
Sterling. No, no, I'm too ashamed, I can't 
face you; in the dark I'll make a clean breast of 
it — let me tell you in the dark. 

[Warden moves and puis his hand on the electric- 
light button beside the doorway at back. 
Warden. In the dark, then, tell ill 
[lie presses the button and all the lights go out. 
The stage is in complete darkness; only the 
voices are heard jrom the difjerent places in 
which the actors are last seen. 
Blanche. [Quickly.] Remember, to help you, 



1S8 THE CLIMBERS 

to help ourselves, we must know everything. Go 
on. 

Sterling. It began fourteen months ago, 
after Ned Warden put me on my feet; I got a 
little ahead — why not get way ahead ? There were 
plenty of men around me making their fortunes! 
I wanted to equal them — climb as high as they ; 
it seemed easy enough for them, and luck had 
begun to come my way. We're all climbers of 
some sort in this world. I was a climber after 
wealth and everything it brings — 

\He stops a moment. 

Blanche. [Her voice comes throbbing with 
pathetic emotion through the darkness.] And / 
after happiness and all it brings. 

Sterling. [Deeply moved, his voice trembles for 
a moment, but only for a moment.] Don't, Blanche, 
or I can't ftnish. Well, I borrowed on some of 



THE CLIMBERS 1 59 

Aunt Ruth's bonds and speculated — I made a 
hundred thousand in a week ! I put back the 
bonds. But it had been so easy ! I could see 
those bonds grinning at me through the iron side 
of the vault box. They seemed to smile and beckon, 
to heg me to take them out into the air again ! 
They grew to be like living things to me, servants 
of mine to get me gold — and finally I determined 
to make one bigger coup than ever! I took 
Aunt Ruth's bonds out and all the money available 
in my trust, and put it all into this new company ! 
It seemed so safe. I stood to be a prince among 
the richest! And, for a day or so, I've known 
nothing short of a miracle could save me from 
being wanted by the police ! To-night I gave up 
even the miracle. That's all. It's no use saying 
I'm sorry. 

\A moments pause. 



i6o THE CLIMBERS 

Mason. Have others suffered besides Miss 
Hunter ? 

Sterling. There is some money of Aunt 
Ruth's left — stock I couldn't transfer. But I 
used the money of others — Miss Godesby and 
Ryder's. 

Mason. Miss Ruth, a large part of your for- 
tune is gone, used unlawfully by this man. Will 
you resort to the law? 

Ruth, \yery quietly. \ No! 

Blanche. \ln a voice broken with emotion and 
gratitude,] Aunt Ruth! 

Mason. We can't hope Miss Godesby and 
Ryder will be as lenient! You must go to them 
in the morning — tell them everything, put your- 
self at their mercy, ask for time and their 
silence. 

Sterling. Never! I couldn't do it. 



THE CLIMBERS i6i 

Mason. It is the only honorable way out of your 
dishonorable action — the least you can do ! 

Sterling. Confess to their faces, and probably 
to no good ? Eat the dust at their feet, and most 
likely be clapped into prison for it ? No^ thank you I 

Blanche. Suppose / went to them ? 

Sterling. You? 

Ruth. No! Why should you I 

Sterling. Yes! Why not? They might keep 
silent for her! 

Blanche. I would do it for my boy's sake. 
Yes, 77/ go. 

Sterling. Yesl You go, Blanche. 

Ruth. No, you shan't go — you shan't humili- 
ate yourself in his place! 

Mason. Certainly not ; and if your husband is 
wiUing, we are not wiUing! He must go. 

Blanche. But if he won't? 

M 



l62 THE CLIMBERS 

Mason. He must! 

Ruth. You must demand his going, Blanche, 
and I demand it, too, as something due to me. 

Blanche. Very well. I demand it. Will you 
go? 

\A momenVs silence. 

Warden. Why don't you speak? [He presses 
ike electric button and all the lights come on. Ster- 
ling is at the doorway at back, about to steal out. 
There is an exclamation aloud from all of sur- 
prise and disgust. The clock strikes the quarter ; 
Warden catches hold of Sterling's arm.] 
What's your hurry, Dick ? There goes the quarter 
hour ; you could never catch the eleven-twenty. 

Sterling. Damn you! 

[Facing Warden squarely, as 

the curtain falls quickly 



ACT III 

At " The JJcrmitagc,^* on the Bronx River^ the 
next altef)ioo}i. The house is on the Le/t, and 
on the A'/\'/// (/;/(/ at the back are the i^reen lattke 
arches. Snow lies thick everywhere, on the 
benches at the Ria^ht and on the little iron 
table beside it, on the swini:^ between two trees at 
the Rii^Jit, in the red boxes oj dead slirnbs, on 
the rocks and dried i^rass oj a ^^ rookery ^^ in the 
centre, and on the branches oj the trees. Clara 
comes out jrom the honse^ jolhnued by Trotter. 

Clara. Come on and let mama rest awhile — 

naturally she's ex( ited and tired out, being married 

so suddenly and away from home. [She stops 

beside the swing, taking hold oj its side rope with 

163 



1 64 THE CLIMBERS 

her hand.] It isn't every mother who can elope 
without her oldest child's consent and have her 
youngest daughter for a bridesmaid. 

[Laughing. 

Trotter. I hope Mrs. Sterling will forgive 
me. Perhaps she will when she sees how my 
money can help your mother and me to get right 
in with all the smarties! 

Clara. Oh, don't you be too sure about your 
getting in ; it isn't as easy as the papers say ! But, 
anyway, that wouldn't make any difference to 
Blanche. She was never a climber like mama 
and me. I suppose that's why she is asked to 
all sorts of houses through Aunt Ruth that wouldn't 
let mama and me even leave our cards on the 
butler ! 

Trotter. I thought your mother could go 
anywhere she liked. 



THE CLIMBERS 165 

Clara. Oh, no, she couldn't ! if she made you 
think that, it was only a jolly I Blanche is the 
only one of us who really went everywhere. Come 
along, ^^Poppa^''^ give me a swing! I haven't had 
one for years ! 

\She sweeps off the snow from the seat 0} the 
swing with her hand. 

Trotter. Your mother certainly did repre- 
sent — 

Clara. [Sitting in the swing.] Oh, well, now 
don't blame mama ! She couldn't help herself ; 
she always thought you dreadjully handsome! 
Swing me ! 

Trotter. I don't care, anyway. I'm deucedly 
proud of your mother, — I mean of my wife, — and 
I'd just as Hef throw up the whole society busi- 
ness and go off and Hve happily by ourselves. 

Clara. O dear! I think mama would find 



1 66 THE CLIMBERS 

that awfully dull. Go on, swing me ! [Trotter 
swings her.] Of course, you'll find mama a little 
different when you see her all the time. You 
really won't see much more of her, though, than you 
do now. She doesn't get up till noon, and has her 
masseuse for an hour every morning, her manicure 
and her mental science visitor every other day, 
and her face steamed three times a week ! She 
has to He down a lot, too, but you mustn't mind 
that ; you must remember she isn't our age ! 

Trotter. [Swings her.] She suits me! 

Clara. That's just what / ieelf You'll take 
care of her, and me, too, all our Hves, and that's 
what makes me so happy. I'm full of plans 1 
We'll go abroad soon and stay two years. [He has 
stopped swinging her.] Go on, swing me ! 

Trotter. [Holding the swing still.] Say] if 
you think you are going to run me and the whole 



THE CLIMBERS 167 

family, you're a Dodo bird ! Remember that 
you're my daughter; you must wait a little if 
you want to be a mother-in-law. 

[Sleigh-bells are heard in the distance, coming 
nearer. 

Clara. Good gracious ! If you ask me, I 
think mama has got her hands full. What's 
become of Miss Godesby and her brother? 

Trotter. When you went upstairs with your 
mother, they went down the road. 

Clara. You know originally the idea was / 
was to marry you. 

Trotter. Really — 

Clara. [Laughingly.] Yes, and mama cut me 
out. 

Trotter. Oh, well, it can't be helped; we 
can't marry everybody. 

Clara. [Noticing the hells.] Somebody else 



1 68 THE CLIMBERS 

arriving! That's queer — nobody comes here 
in the winter; that's why we chose it, because it 
would be quiet! Let's play this game. 

[Going to an iron jrog on a box which stands 
near the house. 

Trotter. Perhaps it's Mrs. Sterling. 

Clara. No ; if she was coming at all, she'd have 
come in time for the wedding. [She takes up the 
disks which lie beside the jrog.] I should hate to 
get married like you and mama — no splurge and 
no presents ! Why, the presents'd be half the fun ! 
And think of all those you and she've given in 
your life, and have lost now a good chance of 
getting back. 

[Throws a disk into the jrog^s open mouth. 

Trotter. /'// give your mother all the presents 
she wants. I can afford it ; I don't want anybody 
to give us anything! 



THE CLIMBERS 169 

Clara. You talk like Jess ! [Throws another 
disk.] You know Jess earns her own living. She 
goes around to smart women's houses answering 
their invitations and letters for 'em. * She calls it 
being a visiting secretary, but I tell her she's a 
co-respon-dent I 

[Throws a disk. 
[Warden and Mason enter from behind the 
house quickly, with a manner of suppressed 
excitement. They are surprised to find Clara 
and Trotter. 
Warden. Why, here they are! 
Mason. No, only Miss Clara and Trotter. 
Warden. Lucky I met you — you must take 
me back in your sleigh. 
Mason. Yes, the riding's beastly. 
Trotter. Hello! I say, were you invited? 
Clara. Merry Christmas! 



I70 THE CLIMBERS 

Wardi'.n. Wc tame to sec the (jO(lcsl)ys. 

C^LARA. Tlu^'vc gone down tlie road. 

Mason. Sterling isn't here, is he? 

I'rottkk. No, haven't seen him. 

Clara. Do you know why we're here? 

[Mason and Wardi'-N arc embarrassed. 

Mason. Yes — er — er — a — many hai)j)y re- 
turns, Mr. 'I'rotter. 

'I'Korri'K. It's a great (hiy for me, Mr. Mason! 

WardI'N. Wish you joy, Trotter! 

[Juiiharrasscd and not i!;oing near him. Tro rriOR 
rushes eai^er/y to him and grasps his hand 
warmly. 

'I'roitkr. Thank you, old man! 1 say! Thanh 
you ! 

Mason. Miss Clara, would you do me the 
great favor of going down the road and hurrying 
tlie Godesbys back if you see them? 



THE CI.IMni'.RS 171 

Ci.ARA. Yes, I (loii'l mind; conic .ilonj^, Trolly ! 

WardI'IN. You must (rx(:us(^ 'I'roltcr. I want 
a talk witli liim if \\v. will f^ivc mc five minutes. 

(Jlara. ()1), (crtaiiily. 

\Shc goes (nil Lc.]l behind the, house. 

Wardkn. [To Mason. I Will you sec Mrs. 
Hunter? 

Trot'I'icr. T ])c|^ your f)a,r(lon, Mrs. 'rrotter ! 

VVakdi.n. \roHldy.\ I I k'^^ yours. (YV^ Mason.] 
Sec Mrs. Troltcr. 

Mason. \Aside to \Vai^I)i;n.| You're ^oinj^ to 
a.sk hi>n to j^o on i)i( k's note for Kyder? 

Wari)i;n. [In a low voice.] Yes. 

Mason. You're a wonder! As if he would! 

WaroI'IN. Somebody musl^ and there's nobody 
else. 'J'hat boy anci that mother have g(;t U) he 
saved ! 

Mason. I'm sorry rny name's no go(jd for us. 



172 THE CLIMBERS 

Warden. And mine mustn't be used. 

Mason. No, indeed! The minute that was 
done, there'd be a new compHcation, and more 
trouble would tumble down on Mrs. SterUng's 
head. Good luck. 

\Shakes his hand and enters the house. 

Trotter. What's up? You haven't come to 
kick about my wedding, have you? I wouldn't 
stand for that, you know! 

Warden. It's not that, Mr. Trotter. Your 
wife's son-in-law. Sterling, has turned out a 
blackguard ; he has had intrusted to him Miss 
Ruth Hunter's money and several other people's, 
and he's used it all for speculation of his own. 

Trotter. Then he's a damned thief! 

[He sits on the bench ivith the manner that he 
has settled the subject. 

Warden. So he is, and he's ruined. 



THE CLIMBERS 173 

Trotter. Well, prison is the place for him. 

Warden. We won't argue that, but how about 
his family — they get punished for what he has 
done ; they must share his disgrace. 

Trotter. Oh, well, my wife is out of all that 
now — she's Mrs. Trotter. 

Warden. Yes, but her own daughter suffers. 

Trotter. [On the dejensive.] She isn't very 
chummy with her classy eldest daughter. 

Warden. Never mind that ; you know without 
my teUing you that Mrs. SterHng is a fine woman. 

Trotter. She's always snubbed me right and 
left, but, by George, I must own she is a fine 
woman. 

Warden. That's right! [Clapping him on the 
back and putting his arm around his shoulder.] 
Look here — help us save her! 

Trotter. How? 



174 THE. CLIMBERS 

Warden. Indorse a note of Sterling's to give 
Ryder to keep him quiet. 

Trotter. I'd have to ask my wife. 

Warden. No! Don't start off like that! 
Keep the reins in your own hands at the very be- 
ginning, — make her realize from this very day 
that you're raised up on the cushion beside her; 
that she's sitting lower down admiring the scenery, 
while you do the driving through life! 

Trotter. \Hal] laughing.] Ha! I guess 
you're right. Box seat and reins are good enough 
for me ! 

Warden. Good boy! Then we can count on 
you to sign this note? 

Trotter. Where's 7ny security? 

Warden. I can get you security if you want it. 

Trotter. Of course I want it! And I say, 
where are you? Why aren't you in it? 



THE CLIMBERS 175 

Warden. There are reasons why my name 
had better not appear; you are in the family. 
But I'll tell you what I'll do, Trotter ; I'll secure 
you with a note of my own — only you must keep 
it dark ; you mustn't even let Mason know. 

Trotter. All right, perhaps I'm a Dodo bird, 
but I'll do it. Say, I seem to have married a 
good many of this classy family ! 

Warden. Trotter, no one's done you justice! 

And, by George ! you deserve a better fate — er 

— I mean — my best wishes on your wedding day. 

[Trotter shakes his hand delightedly. 

Trotter. Great day for me 1 What I wanted 
was style and position, and some one classy who 
would know how to spend my money for me ! 

Warden. Well, you've got that, surely! 

[Clara comes hack from the house, 

Clara. The Godesbys are coming. Trotter, 



176 THE CLIMBERS 

there's skating on the river near here, and they've 
skates in the house — don't you want a spin ? 

Trotter. Yes, I don't mind — if my wife 
doesn't need me ! [Clara laughs as Godesby and 
Miss Godesby enter jrom behind the house. 
Trotter meets them, with Clara on his arm.] 
Excuse us for a Httle while ! 

Clara. Poppa and I're going skating! 

[They go out Left. 

Godesby. Hello, Warden. 

Warden. Good morning. Miss Godesby. 

Miss Godesby. Good morning. 

Warden. How are you, Godesby? I've come 
on a matter most serious, most urgent — some- 
thing very painful. 

Godesby. What is it? 

[Comes forward. 

Warden. Both of you trusted Dick Sterling. 



THE CLIMBERS 177 

Miss Godesby. What's he done? 

Warden. Misused your funds. 

Godesby. How d'you mean? 

Warden. I mean that the money you intrusted 
to him is gone, and I've come to make a proposi- 
tion to you. 

Miss Godesby. Gone? 

[Godesby and Miss Godesby are aghast. A 
second's silence, during which Godesby and 
Miss Godesby look at each other, then back 
at Warden. 

Godesby. Do you mean to say — 

Warden. The money is gone, every penny of 
it, and I want you to accept a note from Sterling 
to cover the amount. 

Miss Godesby. I can't grasp it! 

Godesby. Where is Sterling? Why didn't 
he come? 

N 



iyS THE CLIMBERS 

Warden. He was ashamed. 

GoDESBY. I should hope so! 

Warden. Several of us are going to stick by 
him; we'll manage to put him on his feet again, 
and we want you to accept his note. 

GoDESBY. [Incredulous.] Accept his note? 

Miss Godesby. [Also incredulous.] On what 
security ? 

Godesby. [Quickly.] You'll do nothing of the 
sort, Julia! 

Miss Godesby. I'll see him where he belongs, 
in Staters Prison, first! 

Warden. That wouldn't bring you back your 
money. 

Miss Godesby. Neither will his note! 

Warden. If I get it indorsed? 

Godesby. Likely! 

Miss Godesby. Rather! 



THE CLIMBERS 179 

Warden. I want your silence to keep it from 
the public for the family's sake. I've secured a 
satisfactory indorser for a note to satisfy Ryder's 
claim. 

Miss Godesby. Why didn't you give him to me 
instead of Ryder? 

Warden. I felt you would be willing, out of 
friendship — 

[There are sleigh-hells in the distance, coming 
nearer. 

Miss Godesby. Huh! you must take me for 
an idiot! 

Warden. Out of friendship for his wife. 

Miss Godesby. Blanche SterHng! I never 
could bear her! She's always treated me like 
the dirt under her feet! 

Warden. You dined with her last night. 

Miss Godesby. That was to please her mother. 



l8o THE CLIMBERS 

No, if my money's gone, Sterling's got to suffer, 
and the one slight consolation I shall have will be 
that Blanche Sterling will have to come off her 
high horse. 

\T}ie sleigh-bells stop. 

GoDESBY. [To Miss Godesby.] Ten to one 
if you agree to sign this note — 

Warden. And keep silent. 

Miss Godesby. [Satirically.] Oh, yes, of course, 
the next morning when I wake up Sterling will be 
gone ! Nobody knows where ! 

Warden. I've had it out with Sterling! I am 
here as his representative. I give you my word 
of honor Sterling will not run away. It is under 
such an understanding with him that I am plead- 
ing his case in his stead. He will stay here and 
work till he has paid you back, every cent. 

[Jessica enters hurriedly jrom the house. 



THE CLIMBERS i8i 

Jessica. \In great excitement. \ Mr. Warden, 
Mr. Warden, Dick has gone! 

Warden. Sterling? Gone? 

Miss Godesby. Gone? 

GODESBY. That's good! 

Warden. Don't be a fool, Godesby. How do 
you mean "gone," Miss Hunter? 

Jessica. I don't altogether know. While I 
was out this morning, Blanche received a message 
from mother saying she'd been — 

\She hesitates., looking toward Godesby and 
Miss Godesby. 

Warden. They know. They're your mother's 
guests here. 

Jessica. She told Blanche they would be 
glad to have her here at one o'clock for 
breakfast. Blanche ordered the sleigh at once 
and went away, leaving word for me I was 



1 82 THE CLIMBERS 

to open any message which might come for 
her. 

Warden. \To Godesby.] Has she been here? 

GoDESBY. Not that I know of. 

Miss Godesby. [Eager to hear more.] No, no ! 

Jessica. No, they say not. She probably 
went first to Aunt Ruth's. Before I got back, 
Dick, who'd been out — 

Warden. He was at my house. 

Jessica. Yes. He came back, questioned Jor- 
dan as to where Blanche was, went upstairs, and 
then went away again, leaving a note for Blanche, 
which I found when I came home — 

Warden. [Eagerly.] Yes? 

Jessica. It simply said, "Good-by. Dick." 

Miss Godesby. [Very angry.] Oh! 

Godesby. [Quickly.] He's taken a train ! He's 
cleared out! 



THE CLIMBERS 183 

Warden. Do you know if he took a bag or 
anything with him? 

Jessica. No, he took nothing of that sort. 
Jordan v/ent into his room and found a drawer 
open and empty, a drawer in which Dick kept — 
a pistol I — 

\She drops her voice almost to a whisper. 

Warden. Good God, he's shot himself! 

Jessica. Perhaps not — he left the house. 

Warden. Yes, if he were really determined 
to shoot himself, why wouldn't he have done it 
there in his own room? 

Jessica. What can we do ? What can we do ? 

Warden. I'll get Mr. Mason ; he's with your 
mother; he must go back to town at once. 

[Going to the house. 

Jessica. He can go with me; I'd better be at. 
the house. Some one must be there. 



i84 THE CLIMBERS 

Warden. Good! 

\He goes into the house. 

[Miss Godesby and her brother ignore and 

apparently forget the presence oj Jessica in 

their excitement. They both speak and move 

excitedly. 

Miss Godesby. I ought to have suspected 

something when Sterling told me he was getting 

ten per cent for my money, — the blackguard ! 

Godesby. I always told you you were a fool 
not to take care of your money yourself! You 
know more about business than most men. 

Miss Godesby. I didn't want to be bothered ; 
besides, there was always something very attractive 
about Sterhng. I don't mind teUing you that if 
he had fallen in love with me instead of the stiff- 
necked woman he married, I'd have tumbled over 
myself to get him. 



THE CLIMBERS 185 

GoDESBY. How do you feel about him now? 

Miss Godesby. Now ! Thank God, I'm saved 
such a waking up ! It's going to make a big 
difference with my income, Howard ! I wonder if 
his wife knew he was crooked ! I'll bet you she's 
got a pot of money stowed away all right in her 
own name. 

Jessica. \Who can hear no more, interrupts^ 
Please — please ! Remember that you're speak- 
ing of my sister and that every word you are 
saying cuts through me Hke a knife. 

Miss Godesby. I beg your pardon ; I ought to 
have thought. I like and respect you, Jess, and 
I've been very rude. 

Jessica. You've been more than that; you've 
been cruelly unjust to Blanche in all that you've 
said! 

Miss Godesby. Perhaps I have, but I don't 



1 86 THE CLIMBERS 

feel in a very generous mood ; I've some excuse — 
so please forgive me. 

[Warden reenters LejL 

Warden. [To Jessica.] Mason is waiting for 
you with the sleigh. He's going first to my house. 
Dick may have gone back there to hear the result 
of my interview with Ryder, — then Mason'U 
try his own house and Sterling's club. 

GoDESBY. The police are the best men to find 
SterHng, whatever's happened. 

Warden. [To Godesby.] You wait a minute 
with me; I haven't finished with you yet. [To 
Jessica.] I'll stay here for your sister, in case she 
comes. 

[Jessica goes out LejL 

Godesby. [To Miss Godesby.] Don't you 
give in ! 

Miss Godesby. Not for a minute ! [To War- 



THE CLIMBERS 187 

DEN.] Don't you think, under the circumstances, 
the wedding breakfast had better be called off, 
and my brother and I go back to town? 

Warden. Not till you've given me your promise, 
both of you, that you will keep silent about the 
embezzlement of your bonds for the sake of 
Mrs. Sterhng and her son. 

Miss Godesby. \Hal] laughs.] Huh! 

Warden. For the sake of her mother, who is 
your friend. 

[Sleigh-bells start up loud and die off quickly; 
Jessica has gone. 

Miss Godesby. Oh, come, you know what sort 
of friends we are, — for the amusement we can get 
out of each other. This is the case, — I trusted 
this man with my affairs. H^ was very attractive — 
I don't deny that; business with Dick Sterling 
became more or less of a pleasure — but that 



1 88 THE CLIMBERS 

doesn't cut any ice with me; he's stolen my 
money. To put it plainly, he's a common thief, 
and he ought to be punished ; why should he go 
scot free and a lot of others not? You know 
perfectly well his note wouldn't be worth the paper 
it was written on ; and, anyway, if he hasn't gone 
and sneaked out of the world, I won't lift my Httle 
finger to keep him from the punishment he de- 
serves ! 

GoDESBY. Good for you, Julia! 

Warden. Don't you put your oar in, Godesby ; 
just let this matter rest between your sister and 
me! She's always been known as the best man 
in your family. 

Godesby. You don't choose a very conciHatory 
way of bringing us around! 

Warden. I'm not choosing any way at all ; I'm 
striking right out from the shoulder. There 



THE CLIMBERS 189 

isn't time for beating round the bush ! I'm 
pleading for the good name and honorable position 
of a perfectly innocent, a fine, woman, and for 
the reputation and unimpeded career of her son ! 
And I make that appeal as man to man and 
woman ! 

Miss Godesby. I have nothing to do with 
any one in this matter but Sterling himself, who 
has robbed me, and I'll gladly see him suffer for it ! 

Warden. Now look here. Miss Godesby, you 
belong to a pretty tough crowd in society, but I 
know at heart you're not a bad sort ! What good 
will it do you ? Granted even that you don't care 
for Mrs. SterHng, still don't tell me you're the kind 
of woman to take a cruel pleasure in seeing another 
woman suffer ! I wouldn't believe it ! You're 
not one of those catty creatures ! You're a clever 
woman, and I don't doubt you can be a pretty 



I90 THE CLIMBERS 

hard one, too, at times; but you're just — that's 
the point now — you're JUST — 

Miss Godesby. [Interrupting.] Exactly! I'm 
just, an eye for an eye ! Sterling is a thief, let 
him get the deserts of one! 

[She sits on the bench determinedly. 

Warden. But you can't look at only one 
side ! You can't shut your eyes to his wife's 
suffering, too, and she doesn't desen-e it ! Neither 
does her boy deserve to share his disgrace. [He 
sits beside her.] Why, you have it in your power 
to handicap that boy through his whole Hfe by 
pubHshing his father a criminal; or you can give 
that boy a fair show to prove himself more his 
mother's son than his father's, and to live an 
honest — who knows — perhaps a noble Hfe ! 

Miss Godesby. I refuse to accept such a re- 
sponsibility. Ryder — 



THE CLIMBERS 191 

Warden. [Rises, interrupling her.] Ryder's word 
is given to be silent. 

Miss Godesby. Well, that's his lookout. 

Warden. You'll have many a heart wrench, 
I'll bet you ! You'll have to run across the results 
of the harm you do to Mrs. Sterling and Richard 
day in and day out, year after year! I don't 
believe you reaHze what it means ! Why, I know 
you can't bear to see a dog suffer ! I met you last 
week on the street carrying a mangy, crippled brute 
of a little dog in your arms, afraid lest he'd get 
into the hands of the vivisectionists, and yet here 
you'll let a boy and hLs mother — 

Miss Godesby. [Interrupts him, struggling 
against a tiny ejnotion which he has stirred.] Stop ! 
Stop ! I don't want you working on my feelings 
that way. 

[She rises and turns from him. 



192 THE CLIMBERS 

Warden. [Follows her.] I'm only knocking 
at the door of your heart. And now because it's 
opened just a tiny way, you want to shut it in my 
face again. Will you leave this woman's name 
fit for her to use? Won't you make that boy's 
Hfe worth living to him? 

Miss Godesby. [After a moments pause, looks 
straight into Warden's face.] I'll tell you what 
I'll do. Get me some security, some sort of 
indorsement of Sterling's note — 

Warden. If the man's only alive! 

Miss Godesby. And I'll hold my tongue. 

Warden. How long will you give me? 

Miss Godesby. Oh, come, I can't have any 
monkey business 1 You must get me my security 
to-day. 

Warden. To-day? 

Miss Godesby. Yes. 



THE CLIMBERS 193 

Warden. But — 

Miss Godesby, That's my last word. 

GoDESBY. Stick to that, JuHal 

Warden. I shan't try to persuade her against 
that. Will you leave your sister alone with me a 
moment. Perhaps you'll see about your sleigh 
being ready to return to town. 

Godesby. I've no objection — if Julia wishes it. 

Miss Godesby. Yes, go on, Howard ! 

[Godesby goes out hack of house. 

Warden. [Lejt alone with Miss Godesby, goes 
nearer to her.] Look here ! Will you accept my 
indorsement? Will / be all right? 

Miss Godesby. [Incredulously.] Certainly. 

Warden. Then it's settled? 

Miss Godesby. You don't mean it! 

Warden. I do. 

Miss Godesby. You'd be willing to lose — 



194 THE CLIMBERS 

\A revelation comes to her.] Oh — for Mrs. 
Sterling! I see! 

Warden. [Very seriously.] I zcouldn't. I 
wouldn't see. 

Miss Godesby. And she's always been black- 
guarding me for my affairs with men ! And all 
the time — 

Warden. [Interrupts strongly.] Don't say any 
more, please, Miss Godesby! I only wish 
your brother had said that much instead of 
you. 

Miss Godesby. [Disagreeably.] So you're in 
love with Blanche Sterling? 

Warden. No! 

Miss Godesby. Oh, come, don't tell a lie about 
it; that will only make it seem worse. 

Warden. Well, suppose I were in love with her 
— what of it ? 



THE CLIMBERS 195 

Miss Godesby. Nothing ; only, my dear War- 
den, that woman — 

Warden. [Interrupts.] Wait a minute ! You've 
got me in a corner, but knowing half the truth, 
you mustn't guess the whole. She is even more igno- 
rant of my love for her than you were ten minutes 
ago! [Miss Godesby smiles and makes a little 
satirical exclamation.] You don't believe that, 
but I'll make you. I'm going to tell you some- 
thing I've never even told myself. I'm going 
to put you to a big test, because I've got to. 
Apparently, I can't help myself; but after all, 
somehow I believe in the human nature in you, 
and you've got it in your power to help or hurt 
the woman I love — I say those words aloud for 
the first time — the woman I love ! 

[He has finished his speech in a lowered tone 
throbbing with controlled jeeling. 



196 THE CLIMBERS 

Miss Godesby. \lncredu]ously.\ You've never 
told her? 

Warden. Never ; and you show how little you 
really know her when you ask that question ! She 
loves her husband. 

Miss Godesby. I'm not so sure about that! 

Warden. I am, and I love her. But surely the 
silent love of a man, Hke mine, is no insult to a 
good woman — cannot harm her ! A love that 
is never spoken, not even whispered, can't hurt 
any one, except, perhaps, the one who loves. You 
must acknowledge even you have never heard 
a hint ; you sJioiced just now your real surprise at 
what circumstances revealed to you ! I'd die 
sooner than bring the sHghtest shadow of a scandal 
on her, and I've hugged my secret tight. Have 
you any idea what such a love means? How it 
grows and grows, its strength shut in, held back, 



THE CLIMBERS 197 

doubling and redoubling its powers! — its ideality 
increasing, the passion suppressed, locked up ! 
Good God ! I tremble sometimes when I think — 
suppose some day it should burst out, break my 
control, MASTER me! [A pause.] And here, now, 
I've told you; I'm sorry, but I had to for her sake 
again. Will you help me keep my secret? 

Miss Godesby. [Ajter a second's pause.] Yes, 
because I believe you. 

Warden. And Mrs. Sterling? 

Miss Godesby. [Slowly, with sincere meaning.] 
I envy her! 

[Her voice breaks and she turns away from him. 

Warden. No one is to know I indorse Sterling's 
note? 

Miss Godesby. You needn't sign the note; 
my brother 'd have to see it. I'll take your word 
for the indorsement. 



198 THE CLIMBERS 

\She offers him her hand. They shake hands. 

Warden. What a brick you are ! You know 
you don't do yourself anything Hke justice in the 
world ! 

[GoDESBY reenters Left and after him a Man 
Servant in ordinary clothes, who passes 
through the archway at back centre. 

GoDESBY. Ready! 

Warden. [Aside to her.] You can promise his 
silence about Sterling? 

Miss Godesby. Oh, yes, he's absolutely depend- 
ent upon me. 

Warden. Thank you. 

Miss Godesby. [To Ned with a forced gaiety.] 
Good-by ! 

Warden. [Again shaking her hand.] Good-by. 
[He looks his thanks at her. 

Godesby. Well? What did you do? 



THE CUMBERS 199 

Miss Godesby. {As they go.\ Don't worry; 
I've taken care of myself for many years, and I 
still feel up to it ! 

\They go out Lejt and at the same time the Ser- 
vant enters jrom the archway at hack centre 
carrying some fire logs in his arms. This Ser- 
vant speaks with a slight French accent. As 
he reaches the house, Warden stops him with 
a question, and the Godesbys' sleigh-bells start 
up and quickly die away. The sun begins to set. 
Warden. Have you an empty sitting room? 
Servant. Yes, sair. 
Warden. Warm ? 

Servant. I will soon arrange a fire. 
Warden. I wish you would, please. 
Servant. Ze big room for ze breakfast is 
altogether ready and warm ; you will be able to go 
in there now. 



200 THE CLIMBERS 

Warden. No, that wouldn't do. It's all right 
out here for me, only I am expecting a 
lady. 

[Sleigh-bells are heard in the distayice^ coming 

quickly nearer. 
Servant. Yes, sair. 

Warden. I hear a sleigh coming. If a lady is 
in it, ask if her name is Mrs. Sterhng, and if she 
says yes, tell her INIr. Warden is here and would 
like to speak with her a moment before she goes in 
to Mrs. — 

[He hesitates a second. 
Servant. Trottair? 
Warden. Yes. 
Servant. Yes, sair. 

[He goes into the house. 

[The Sim grows red, and the colors of sunset 

creep over the sky during the scene which 



THE CLIMBERS 20i 

follows. After a moment the Servant shows 
Blanche out from the house. 

Blanche. [Surprised and depressed.] Good 
morning, Mr. Warden, have you been asked to 
these funeral baked meats? 

Warden. No, I'll explain why I am here in a 
few minutes. Only let me ask you first when you 
last saw your husband? 

Blanche. Early this morning. 

Warden. And you have come just now from 
where ? 

Blanche. Aunt Ruth's. Of course you know 
about my mother ? When I heard it I started to 
come here, but my heart failed me and I turned 
back to my aunt's. She has persuaded me that I 
ought to come and put the best face on the matter 
possible, but it seems as if I'd had now a little 
more than I can bear! 



aoa THE CUMBERS 

[Her voice breaks and her eyes fill with tears. 

Warden. [Ahuost tenderly.] Shall we go inside ? 

Blanche. No, no ! Let us stay out in the air ; 
my head would burst in one of these close httle 
rooms. Have you seen mother? 

Warden. No, not yet. 

Blanche. Where is Dick? Did he go to 
Ryder's? 

Warden. No, but I have some good news to 
tell you all the same — Ryder has promised silence. 

Blanche. [With tremendous relief.] Oh! that's 
too good, too good to be true ! To whom did he 
promise ? 

Warden. I want you not to ask me that. 

Blanche. I can guess, it was — 

Warden. [Ly/;/^i,\] No, it was — Mason. 

Blanche. [Doubting Jiini.] Mr. Mason? 

Warden. And I've more s:;ood news for vou, 



THE CLIMBERS 203 

Mrs. Sterling — the Godeshys, too ; they will be 
silent. 

Blanche. You're sure? 

Warden. We have their word! 

Blanche. [Pointedly.] Mr. Mason again? — 
[Warden hows his head in assent.] He was here? 

Warden. Some time ago, but only for a minute. 
He didn't stay ; he went to find your husband. 

Blanche. But the Godeshys? I just met 
them now on the road going back. How could 
Mr. Mason, if he didn't stay — [Warden is 
embarrassed, and is silent, searching a way out oj 
it.] Oh, no! no! it wasn't Mr. Mason! I see the 
whole thing clearly. Dick was too great a coward, 
and you did it ! It was you who won over Ryder ! 
It was you who persuaded the Godesbys ! — 
[Warden shakes his head and makes a movement 
to deny it. Blanche continues speaking, the 



204 THE CLIMBERS 

words rushing to her lips, as her pent-up heart 
opens and lets all her emotions suddenly free.] 
Don't try to deny it ; you can't make me believe 
you ! It's to you I owe whatever promise the 
future has for me ! It is you who have given me 
all the happiness I've had for years. It is you 
who have watched over, taken care of, me — you, 
the best friend any woman in this world ever had. 
It is you now who have saved my boy's honor. 
It is you who Hft the weight off my shoulders, the 
weight off my heart ! You ! — you ! — you ! 

[She sinks sobbing on the bench. It begins to 
snow very quietly and slowly. 

Warden. [.4// his love bursting out into his 
face and into his voice, cries.] Blanche! Blanche! 

[Leaning over her as if to protect her from her 
trouble and take her to his breast. 

Blanche. [Rising and looking straight into 



THE CLIMBERS 205 

his eyes with a suddenly revealed great love in her 
own.\ Ned ! — 

[They hold this position some moments, gazing 
into each other^s eyes; then finally Warden 
makes a movement towards her, crying out 
more triumphantly, having read and realized 
her love jor him. 
Warden. Blanche! 

Blanche. [Moving a half step back from him.] 
No — 
Warden. No? 

Blanche. Look — look, it's beginning to snow ! 

Warden. [Very softly.] What do you mean? 

Blanche. [Desperately.] I mean to speak of 

anything except what is in your thoughts at this 

moment ! Help me not to forget that no matter 

what he has done, Dick is still my husband. 

Warden. You don't know all he has done! 



206 THE CLIMBERS 

Blanche. How not "all"? What else? 
Where is he? 

\Wiih a sudden new alarm. 

Warden. He has left you. 

Blanche. [Echoes.] Left me? — 

Warden. Mason is searching for him. He 
left a note at your house which Jess read ; it was 
only one word "Good-by." 

Blanche. [Echoes again.] Good-by! [Sleigh- 
bells are heard in the distance, coming quickly 
nearer.] What does it mean? You're hiding 
something from me ! Tell me what else you know ? 

Warden. He left the house, but took some- 
thing with him — something from a drawer in 
his room. 

Blanche. [After a second's pause she whispers.] 
His pistol? 

Warden. Yes. 



THE CLIMBERS 207 

Blanche. \Aghast, still whispers.] Has he 
done it? 

Warden. I don't know; I'm waiting word 
from Mason. 

\The sleigh-hells stop. 
Blanche. [Excited.] But we can't wait here 
doing nothing; we must go, too! 

Warden. Mason is doing all that can be done ; 
we'd better wait here. 

[He takes her hand in sympathy, hut without 
suggesting the passion of a few moments he- 
fore. Sterling enters hurriedly Left. He is 
wild with drink and jealousy. 
Sterling. Drop my wife's hand ! 

[They turn in great surprise. 
Blanche. Dick ! 

[Fright at his appearance is mingled with her 
surprise. 



208 THE CLIMBERS 

Warden. \At the same time as Blanche.] 
Sterling ! 

[They do not drop hands. 

Sterling. [Coming nearer, very strong.] Drop 
my wife's hand ! [They do so quickly, not under- 
standing yet.] So I've caught you ! 

Warden. [Angry.] Caught us! 

Sterling. Yes, I had my suspicions roused 
some time ago! 

Blanche. Of what? 

Sterling. I could go to the devil — what did 
you two care! I could go to State's Prison! All 
the better — out of your way I 

Warden. You're speaking like a madman! 

Sterling. I went back to my house this 
morning ; my wife was gone — no message left 
where to ! But I questioned the servant. She'd 
driven here! Why? Ha! [A bitter half laugh; 



THE CLIMBERS 209 

he turns to Blanche.] Yoxi^ve come here once 
too ojten! 

Warden. [Very strong.] Sterling! 

Sterling. [To Warden, but ignoring his 
exclamation.] Then I went to your house. They 
knew where you^d gone ! You ought to train 
your servants better! Both here! 

Warden. If you're not careful, I'll ram your 
insinuations down your throat. 

Sterling. [Jeers.] "Insinuations?" I've 
caught you! I make no ^^ insinuations.^^ I tell 
you both you^re caught/ You're my wife's 
lover, and she's your damned mis — 

[Interrupted. 

Warden. [Seizing Sterling by the throat.] 
Don't you finish ! 

Blanche. Sh ! — for Heaven's sake ! [To War- 
den.] Let him alone; I'm not afraid of what he says. 



2IO THE CLIMBERS 

[Warden leaves Sterling. 

Sterling. No, you never were a liar, I'll give 
you credit for that, — so confess the truth — you're 
his — 

\Inierrupted. 

Blanche. [Excited beyond her control.] Listen! 
And you shall have the truth if you want it ! These 
years that he's been befriending me I never dreamed 
of loving him nor thought of his loving me. [Dick 
sneers.] Wait! No, not even the day my father 
was buried, when I learned outright you were 
dishonest! 

Sterling. [Surprised.] Wliat do you mean? 

Blanche, ^^llat I say — I learned it then from 
a paper of my father's. I shouldn't have kept my 
knowledge to myself — I see that now ; but I did, 
for your sake, not for love of you — the love went 
for good that day. But here, a moment ago, I real- 



THE CLIMBERS 211 

ized for the first time that my old friend did love me, 
love me with an ideal devotion the noblest woman 
in the world might be proud of! I didn't tell 
him then I loved him, but now I take this chance, 
I take it gladly before you! — ]orced by you I 
I tell him now, what perhaps he has already 
guessed, I love him with all my heart — I love him I 
I LOVE him! 

Sterling. Damn you both! then it's the end 
of met 

\He pulls out a pistol and tries to put it to his 
temple. 

Blanche. [Cries out.] Ned! 

Warden. [Seizes Sterling, catches his arm, 
and wrenches the pistol jrom hifn.] So that's what 
you planned to do, is it — make a wretched scene 
like that? 

[// begins to snow more heavily. 



212 THE CLIMBERS 

Sterling. \In utter collapse and shame.] Why 
did you stop me? I'm better out of the world. 
I'm crazy with shame. First I disgraced and now 
I've insuhed — degraded — the only living thing I 
care for, — that's my wife. 

[A moments pause. 

Blanche. [Speaks quietly.] Come back to the 
house. Mr. Mason is looking for you; he has 
something to tell you. 

Sterling. I know — more bad news. 

Blanche. No, good. 

Sterling. [Echoes.] Good! [Starting to go, he 
turns at the porch.] I want you to know that I 
know I'm a rotten beast. 

[He goes out Left. 

Warden. You're going back home? 

Blanche. ''Home!'' [With a faint smile.] I 
should hardly call it that. 



THE CLIMBERS 213 

Warden. [Aside to her.] You're not afraid ? 
Blanche. [Half smiling.] Oh, no ! And my 
boy's there. 

[The thick jailing snow almost hides them, but 

they are unconscious oj it. 
Warden. What's to be done? 
Blanche. Wait ; we'll see — we'll see — let 
it be something we could never regret. Good-by, 
Ned. 

[Giving him her hand. 
Warden. Good-by, Blanche. 
[Kissing her hand very tenderly and almost 
with a certain kind oj awe, as 

THE CURTAIN SLOWLY FALLS 



ACT IV 

The following morning; at the Sterlings' ; the 
library; a warm, livable, and lovable room, full 
of pictures, photographs, and books; mistletoe 
and holly decorate everywhere. In the bow- 
window at back there is a large bird-cage with 
half a dozen birds in it. The furniture is 
comfortable and heavily upholstered. At Left 
there is a fireplace with logs ready, but the fire is 
not lit. There a big table near the centre, full of 
magazines, illustrated papers, and books. A big 
arm-chair is beside the table, and other chairs 
conversationally close. There is a table near the 
door at Right, piled with Christmas gifts, still 
wrapped in white paper; they are tied with many 
214 



THE CLIMBERS 215 

colored ribbons and bunches of holly. There are 
doors Right and Left. After the curtain rises on 
an empty stage, Ruth enters quickly; while she 
has her buoyant manner, she is, of course, more 
serious than usual. She carries a bunch of fresh 
violets in her hand. She looks about the room with 
a sort of curiosity. She is waiting for some one 
to appear. She takes up a silver-framed pho- 
tograph of her brother which stands on a table 
and speaks aloud to it. 

Ruth. I'm glad you're spared this. [With a 
long-drawn breath she places the photograph back 
upon the table and turns to greet Blanche, who 
comes in Right.] Good morning, my dear. 

[She kisses her. 

Blanche. Good morning. You've had my 
note? [Ruth nods.] Thank you. I wanted to 



2i6 THE CLIMBERS 

see you before I saw any one else. You must 
help me decide, only you can. 

Ruth. Have you seen your husband this 
morning ? 

Blanche. No. He sent word he was feeling 
ill, but would like to see me when I was willing. 

Ruth. And you? 

\Tkey sit near each other. 

Blanche. I don't want to talk with him till 
I see more clearly what I am going to do. 

Ruth. Mr. Warden told me last night all 
that happened at ''The Hermitage." But on 
your ride home with Dick? 

Blanche. We never spoke. [She rises.] Aunt 
Ruth, I am going to leave him. 

Ruth. [Rising.] No! 

Blanche. [Walking up and down.] Why not? 
Everybody does. 



THE CLLMBERS 217 

Ruth. \Going to her.] That's just it. Be 
somebody/ Don't do the easy, weak thing. Be 
strong; be an example to other women. Heaven 
knows it's time they had one! 

[Mrs. Hunter enkrs Right. Blanche meets 
her. 

Mrs. Hunter. Good morning, my poor dear. 
[Going to kiss Blanche. 

Blanche. [Taking Mrs. Hunter's hand and 
not kissing her.] Good morning. 

Mrs. Hunter. Clara's gone upstairs to see 
little Richard. Good morning, Ruth. 

[She adds this with a manner of being 
on the defensive. 

Ruth. [Dryly.] Good morning. 

Mrs. Hunter. [Sitting by the table and looking 
at the picture papers.] Isn't it awful! What are 
you going to do? 



2i8 THE CLIMBERS 

Blanche. I don't know yet, mother. 

Mrs. Hunter. Dont know i Absolute divorce 
— no legal separation! \To Ruth.] We're stay- 
ing at the Waldorf. 

[Blanche sits discouragcdly on the sofa. 

Ruth. [Sitting beside her.] I shall advise 
against, and do everything in my power to prevent, 
Blanche's getting a divorce ! 

Mrs. Hunter. You don't mean to say you'll 
carry those ridiculous notions of yours into prac- 
tice ? — now that a scandal has come into our very 
family ? 

Ruth. Oh, I know selt'ish, cynical, and worldly 
people won't agree with me, and I pity and sym- 
pathize with Blanche from the bottom of my 
heart. [Taking and Jiolding Blanche's Jiand.] 
But I want her not to decide anything now; wait 
till the lirst blows over, and then — well, then I 



THE CLIMBERS 219 

feel sure she will do the strong, noble thing — 
the difficult thing — not the easy. 

Blanche. [Withdraws her hand from Ruth's.] 
No, you ask too much of me, Aunt Ruth; I can't 
do it. 

Ruth. I say don't decide now — wait. 

Blanche. I don't want to wait. I want to decide 
now and to cut my Hfe free, entirely, from Dick's. 

Ruth. You used to agree with me. I've heard 
you decry these snapshot, rapid-transit, tunnel 
divorces many a time. I've heard you say when 
a woman has made her bed, she must lie in it — 
make the best of her bad bargain. 

Blanche. I always sympathized with a woman 
who sought a divorce in this state. 

Ruth. Oh, yes, but you canH, can you? 

Blanche. No, but I'm not strong enough to 
fight out an unhappy life for the sake of setting an 



220 THE CLIMBERS 

example to other women — women who doYCt 
want the example set! 

Ruth. Blanche, I counted on you to be strong, 
to be big — 

Blanche. \Wit)i a voice jull of emotion.] But 
I love Ned Warden. He loves me — life stretches 
out long before us. Dick has disgraced us all. 
I don't love him — should I give my happiness and 
Mr. Warden's happiness for him? 

Mrs. Hunter. Absurd ! We all have a right 
to happiness if we can get it. I have chosen; let 
Blanche follow my example. 

Blanche. [Disgusted.] Yours? [Rises.] Oh! 

Ruth. [Following up the advantage.] Yes, 
Blanche, do you want to follow your mother's 
example ? 

Blanche. No! But the cases are not analo- 
gous! 



THE CLIMBERS 221 

Mrs. Hunter. Not what? You needn't fling 
any innuendoes at Mr. Trotter; it's he who said 
it was my duty to stand by you, advise you, and 
all that sort of thing. I'm not here to please 
myself! Goodness knows, a divorce court isn't 
a very pleasant place to spend your honeymoon! 

Blanche. Thank both you and Mr. Trotter, 
mother; but I ask you to allow Aunt Ruth and me 
to decide this matter between us. 

Mrs. Hunter. Trotter says divorce was made 
for woman ! 

Ruth. And what was made for man, please? 
Polygamy ? 

Mrs. Hunter. I don't know anything about 
pohtics ! But I could count a dozen women in a 
breath, all divorced, or trying to be, or ought to be ! 

Ruth. And each one of them getting a cold 
shoulder. 



c^ 



222 THE CLIMBERS 

Blanche. What of it if their hearts are warm — 
poor climbers after happiness! 

Ruth. Believe me, dear, the chill spreads. 
You're going to be selfish? 

Mrs. Hunter. She's going to be sensible. 

[Clara enters Right. 

Clara. Hello, everybody! I just saw Dick 
coming out of his room and I cut him dead. 

Blanche. Clara! 

Ruth. [To Blanche.] You've taken a certain 
responsibility upon yourself, and you can't shirk it. 

Blanche. He isn't what I thought him! 

Ruth. The day the sun shone on you as a 
bride, in God's presence, you said you took him 
for better for worse — 

Clara. Dear me, is that in it? The marriage 
service ought to be expurgated ! 

Ruth. [To Clara.] I'm ashamed of you. 



THE CLIMBERS 2.21 

Clara. That's nothing new! 

Blanche. Aunt Ruth, let us talk some other 
time. 

Mrs. Hunter. Oh, if we are in the way, we'll go ! 

\Rises. 

Clara. Yes, come on, let's go to Atlantic City. 

Mrs. Hunter. No, I'd rather go to Lakewood. 

Clara. Oh, pshaw, Lakewood's no fun ! I'm 
surprised you don't say go to Aiken, North Carolina. 

Mrs. Hunter. Mr. Trotter says we can't 
leave town anyway while Blanche is in this 
trouble. 

Blanche. Mother, please discuss your affairs 
somewhere else. 

Ruth. And if I may be permitted to suggest, 
you will find Mr. Trotter's advice always pretty 
good to follow. That young man has better 
qualities than we have suspected. I have some- 



224 ^-^-^ CLIMBERS 

thing to thank him for ; will you be good enough 
to ask him to come and see me? 

Mrs. Hunter. He will not go to your house 
with my permission. I shall tell him you have 
never asked me inside your door. 

Clara. Mother, if you ask me — [Mrs. Hun- 
ter interjects "Which I donH,^^ but Clara con- 
tinues without paying any attention to the interrup- 
tion.] — I don't think Mr. Trotter is going to cry 
himself to sleep for your permission about any- 
thing ! 

Mrs. Hunter. [To Blanche.] Good-by, my 
dear; if you want me, let me know; I'll be glad 
to do anything I can. I'm staying at the Waldorf. 

Clara. It's full of people from Kansas and 
Wyoming Territory come to hear the Opera! 

Ruth. A little western blood wouldn't hurt 
our New York Hfe a bit! 



THE CLIMBERS 225 

Clara. Ah! Got you there! The west is 
the place where the divorces come from ! 

Mrs. Hunter. \Laug}is.\ What's the matter 
with Providence? I think Rhode Island tips the 
scales pretty even for the east! 

Blanche. Please go, mother; please leave me 
for a little while. 

Mrs. Hunter. Oh, very well, jgood-by! [Leon- 
ard enters Right with a Christmas parcel, which he 
places on the table Right.] Dear me, have you had 
all these Christmas presents and not opened them ? 

Blanche. It is only Httle Richard in this house 
who is celebrating Christmas to-day. 

Mrs. Hunter. It's a terrible affair; I only 
hope the newspapers won't get hold of it. [To 
Leonard.] If any women come here asking for 
me who look like ladies, don't let 'em in ! They 
ain't my friends; they're reporters. 
Q 



226 THE CLIMBERS 

[Leonard hows and goes out. 

Clara. I'm awfully sorry, Blanche, I honestly 
am; but I think you'll have only yourself to blame 
if you don't strike out now and throw Dick over. 
Good-by ! 

[Mrs. Hunter and Clara go out Right. 

Blanche. I wish they wouldn't advise me to do 
what I want to. 

Ruth. Ah ! 

Blanche. But who do I harm by it? Surely, 
it wouldn't be for his good to be brought up under 
the influence of his father! 

Ruth. If he saw you patiently bearing a cross 
for the sake of duty, can you imagine a stronger 
force for good on the boy's character? What an 
example you will set him! What a chance for a 
mother ! 

Blanche. But my own life, my own happiness ? 



THE CLIMBERS 2.VI 

Ruth. Ah, my dear, that's just it ! The watch- 
word of our age is self! We are all for ourselves; 
the twentieth century is to be a glorification of 
selfishness, the Era of Egotism ! Forget yourself, 
and what would you do? The dignified thing. 
You would live quietly beside your husband if 
not with him. And your son would be worthy 
of such a mother! 

Blanche. And I? 

Ruth. You would be glad in the end. 

Blanche. Perhaps — 

Ruth. Surely ! Blanche, for twenty years Mr. 
Mason and I have loved each other. 

[Blanche is astonished. There is a pause. 

[Ruth smiles while she speaks, though her 
voice breaks. } 
You never guessed! Ah, well, your father 
knew. 



228 THE CLIMBERS 

Blanche. But Mrs. Mason is hopelessly insane; 
surely — 

Ruth. A principle is a principle; I took my 
stand against divorce. What can you do for a 
principle if you don't give up everything for it? 
Nothing! And that is what I mean. To-day I 
am not sorry — I am happy. 

]There is another slight pause. Richard is 
heard upstairs singing a Christmas carol, 
''Once in Royal David's City;' etc. 

Blanche. [With great emotion.] But if it 
breaks my heart — if it breaks my heart ? 

Ruth. Hearts don't break from the pain that 
comes of doing right, but from the sorrow of doing 
wrong! [Neither woman speaks for a minute: in 
the silence Ruth hears Richard.] What's that? 

Blanche. [Hearing now for the first time.] 
Richard singing one of his carols. 



THE CLIMBERS 229 

Ruth. I'd forgotten it was Christmas. 

[Leonard enters Lejt. 
Leonard. Doctor Steinhart is here to see Mr. 
Sterling. Where shall I show him, madame? 
Blanche. Here ; we'll go — 

[Rising. 
Leonard. Yes, madame. 

♦ [He goes out. 

Ruth. Well? What are you going to do? 
Blanche. I'm thinking — 
Ruth. May I come with you, or shall I — 
Blanche. No, come. 

[The two women start to leave the room together 

Right, with their arms around each other. 

They meet Sterling, who enters; he starts, 

they stop. 

Sterling. I beg your pardon, I didn't know 

you were here. 



230 THE CLIMBERS 

Blanche. We are going to my room ; I am sorry 
you are not well. 

Sterling. Oh, it's nothing, thank you. 

Ruth. If we can do anything, let us 
know. 

Sterling. [Overwhelmed unth shame, bows his 
head.] Thank you. 

[The women go out Right. At the same moment 
Dr. Steinhart is shown in by Leonard Left. 

Dr. Steinhart. Good morning, Sterling. 

Sterling. Good morning, doctor; sit down. 

Dr. Steinhart. No, thanks, I'm very rushed 
this morning. What can I do for you ? 

Sterling. I've been drinking too much for some 
time; I can't eat — my nerves are all gone to 
pieces. I've some — some business troubles, and 
I haven't slept for a week. 

Dr. Steinhart. Is that all! Brace up, help 



THE CLIMBERS 231 

yourself a littK\ aiul wo can soon make a man of 
you. 

Stfkuxg. I'm afraid it would take more than a 
doctor to ilo that. 

Pk. Stfinuakt. Oh, come, we must get rid 
of n\elaneholy. Come and drive with me to 
70th Street. 

Sterling. No, I'm too worn out. Look at mv 
hand! [Holds out a trcmblini:; fiiirid.] 1 tell vou 
literally 1 haven't slept for weeks — 1 thought 
you'd give me some chloral or something. 

Dk. STKiNHAur. What? Now? 

Stkki.tng. Yes; I've tried sulphonal and all that 
rot ; it doesn't have any elTect on me. Give me a 
hypodermic — 

Dr. Steinhart. Nonsense! Come out into 
the air! 

Stvriinc. I've btrn out. 



232 THE CLIMBERS 

Dr. Steinhart. Good! Then try lying down 
again, and perhaps you'll go to sleep now. 

Sterling. Very well, but give me something to 
take to-night in case I can't sleep then. 

Dr. Steinhart. \Takes out a note-hook and 
writes with a stylo graphic pen.] Be careful what you 
eat to-day. How about this drinking — did your 
business trouble come after it began, or did the 
whiskey come after the business trouble? 

Sterling. That's it. 

Dr. Steinhart. Um — [Giving Sterling the 
paper which he tears out oj his note-hook.] Look 
here, I've a busy day before me; but I'll look in 
to-morrow, and we'll have a good talk. 

Sterling. Thank you. I say, what is this? 

Dr. Steinhart. It's all right. Sulphate of 
morphia — one-quarter-grain tablets. 

Sterling. Isn't that very little? 



THE CLIMBERS 233 

Dr. Steinhart. Oh, no; you try one, and repeat 
in an hour if it hasn't done its work. 

Sterling. But you've only given me two tablets, 
and I tell you I'm awfully hard to influence ! 

Dr. Steinhart. Two's enough; we don't give 
a lot of drugs to a man in a nervous condition like 
yours. Don't let them wake you for luncheon if 
you're asleep. Sleep's best for you. Good-by 
— pleasant dreams. 

\He goes out Left. 

Sterling. [Reads off the prescription.] "Two 
one-quarter-grain tablets sulphate of morphia, 
Wm. B. Steinhart — " And in ink I Why didn't 
he write it with a lead-pencil ? How can I make it 
more? Two — wait a minute! Two! [Taking 
out his own stylo graphic pen.] What's his ink? 
[Makes a mark with his pen on his cuff.] Good! 
the same ! Why not make it twelve ? [Marking 



234 THE CLIMBERS 

a one before the two.] Just in case — I might as 

well be on the safe side ! 

[He rings an electric bell beside the mantel, and 

waves the paper in the air to dry it. Blanche 

enters Right. 

Blanche. I heard the doctor go. Is anything 

serious the matter? 

Sterling. // it were my body only that had gone 

wrong, Blanche! 

[Leonard enters Left. 

[To Leonard.] Take this prescription round the 

corner and have it put up. 

Leonard. Yes, sir. 

Sterling. And bring it to me with a glass of 

water. 

Leonard. Yes, sir. 

[He goes out Left. 

[Blanche is still standing. Sterling sinks into 

a chair y and puts his head in his hands, his 



THE CLIMBERS 235 

elbows on the table. He lifts his head and 
looks at her. 
Sterling. I know what you're going to do; 
you don't have to tell me; of course you're going to 
divorce me. 
Blanche. No. 
Sterling. What! 
[His hands drop to the table; he looks her straight 

in the face, doubting what he hears. 
Blanche. [Looking back into his eyes.] No. 
Sterling. [Cries.] Blanche! 

[In a tone of amazement and joy. 
Blanche. I give you one more chance, for 
your sake only as my boy^s father. But — donH 
make it impossible for me — do you understand ? 
Sterling. Yes! I must take the true advan- 
tage of this chance your goodness gives me. I must 
right myself, so that people need not hesitate to 



236 THE CLIMBERS 

speak of his father in Richard's presence. And 
this I will do. [With great conviction he rises.] 
I know I am at the cross-roads, and I know the 
way; but I don't choose it for your reasons; I 
choose for my own reason — which is that, unfit as 
/ am, I love you. 

[He speaks deliberately and with real feeling, 
bending over her. 

Blanche. I tell you truly my love for you is 
gone for good. 

Sterling. I'll win it back — you did love me, 
you did, didn't you, Blanche? 

Blanche. I loved the man I thought you were. 
Do you remember that day in the mountains when 
we first really came to know each other, when we 
walked many, many miles without dreaming of 
being tired? 

Sterling. And found ourselves at sunset at the 



THE CLIMBERS 237 

top instead of below, by our hotel ! Oh, yes, I 
remember! The world changed for me that day. 

\Ile sinks hack into the arm-chair^ overcome, in 
his weakened state, by his memories and his 
realization of what he has made of the present. 

Blanche. And for me ! I knew then for the 
first time you loved me, and that I loved you. Oh ! 
how short life of a sudden seemed ! Not half 
long enough for the happiness it held for me ! 
[She turns upon him with a vivid change of feeling.] 
Has it turned out so? 

Sterling. How different ! Oh, what a beast ! 
\yhat a fool! 

Blanche. [Speaking with pathetic emotion^ 
tears in her throat and in her eyes.] And that 
early summer's day you asked me to be your wife ! 
[She gives a little exclamation, half a sob, half a 
laugh.] It was in the corner of the garden ; I can 



238 THE CLIMBERS 

smell the lilacs now! And the raindrops fell 
from the branches as my happy tears did on 
father's shoulder that night, when I said, "Father, 
he will make me the happiest woman in the world ! " 

Sterling. O God ! to have your love back ! 

Blanche. You can't breathe life back into a 
dead thing; how different the world would be if 
one could ! 

Sterling. You can bring back life to the 
drowned ; perhaps your love is only drowned in 
the sorrow I've caused. 

Blanche. \Syniles sadly and shakes her head; 
the smile dies away.] Life to me then was like ^ 
glorious staircase, and I mounted happy step after 
step led by your hand till everything seemed to 
culminate on the day of our wedding. You men 
don't, can't realize, what that service means to a 
girl. In those few moments she parts from all 



THE CLIMBERS 239 

that have cherished her, made her life, and gives 
her whole self, her love, her body, and even her 
soul sometimes — for love often overwhelms us 
women — to the man who, she believes, wants, 
starves^ for her gifts. All that a woman who 
marries for love feels at the altar I tell you a man 
can't understand ! You treated this gift of mine, 
Dick, like a child does a Santa Claus plaything — 
for a while you were never happy away from it, 
then you grew accustomed to it, then you broke 
it, and now you have even lost the broken pieces ! 

Sterling. [Comes to her, growing more and more 
determined.} I will find them, and put them 
together again. 

Blanche. [Again smiles sadly and shakes her 
head.] First we made of every Tuesday a festival — 
our wedding anniversary. After a while we kept 
the twenty-eighth of every month/ The second 



240 THE CLIMBERS 

year you were satisfied with the twenty-eighth of 
April only, and last year you forgot the day alto- 
gether. And yet what a happy first year it was ! 

Sterling. Ah, you see I did make you happy 
once! 

Blanche. Blessedly happy ! Our long silences 
in those days were not broken by an oath and a 
fling out of the room. Oh, the happiness it means 
to a wife to see it is hard for her husband to leave 
her in the morning, and to be taken so quickly — 
even roughly — into his arms at night that she 
knows he has been longing to come back to her. 
Nothing grew tame that first year. And at its end I 
climbed to the highest step I had reached yet, when 
you leaned over my bed and cried big man's tears, 
the first I'd ever seen you cry, and kissed me first, 
and then little Richard lying on my warm arm, and 
said, "God bless you, little mother." [There is a 
pause. Blanche cries softly a moment. Sterling 



THE CLIMBERS 241 

is silent^ ashamed. Again she turns upon him, rous- 
ing herself, but with a voice broken with emotion.] 
And what a bad father you've been to that boy ! 
Sterling. I didn't mean to ! That's done, that's 
past, but Richard's my boy. I'll make him proud 
of me, somehow ! I'll win your love back — you'll 
see! 

[Blanche is about to speak in remonstrance, but 
stops because of the entrance of Leonard. 
He brings a small chemisVs box of tablets in 
an envelope and a glass of water on a small silver 
tray. 
Leonard. Your medicine, sir. 

[He puts it on the table and goes out Right. 
Sterling. Thank you, thank you ! 

[He takes the box of tablets out of the envelope. 
Blanche. [Going to hi?n.] You donH realize 
why I've told you all this! 

R 



242 THE CLIMBERS 

Sterling. [Counting out the tablets.] One, two. 
To give me hope ! To give me hope ! 

[He empties the other ten tablets into the envelope, 

twists it up, and throws it in the fireplace. 
Blanche. No, no, just the opposite! 
Sterling. Then you've defeated your end, 
dear; you will stay here with me. 

Blanche. [Trying to make him realize the 
exact position.] Opposite you at the table, receiving 
our friends, keeping up appearances, yes — but 
nearer to you than that? No! Never! 
Sterling. But you will stay? 

[Leonard enters from Left. 
Leonard. Miss Godesby, Mr. Warden. 

[They enter. 

[All greet each other. Warden nods stiffly to 

Sterling, barely acknowledging his greeting. 

Miss Godesby. [To Sterling, purposely speak- 



THE CLIMBERS 243 

ing with good-humored raillery to relieve the tension 
oj the situatiofi.] Well, you're a nice lot, aren't you ? 

Sterling. I'm so ashamed! I'm so ashamed! 

Miss Godesby. Oh, never mind that now. 

Blanche. I have no words to thank you with. 

Miss Godesby. Oh, that's all right. The 
truth is, I've made Warden bring me here, SterHng, 
for a bit of business. I had an emotional moment 
yesterday and went off my head a bit. I stand 
by what I said as to keeping quiet, but — well, 
I'm like any other old maid who hates dust on 
her mantelpiece — I'm fidgety not to make some 
sort of a bluff at putting this thing on a business 
basis. 

Warden. Excuse me, Miss Godesby, I think 
Sterling ought to know the truth. 

Sterling. Now what? 

Miss Godesby. Well, the truth is, my fool of a 



244 THE CLIMBERS 

brother has kicked up an infernal row, and refuses 
to hold his tongue. 

Sterling. Then I'm ruined after all! 

Miss Godesby. Wait, I've left him with Mr. 
Mason. I feel certain I can assure his silence 
if I can only show him some sort of an agreement 
to pay, an acknowledgment of the — the — affair, 
signed and sealed. 

Blanche. Signed by whom? 

Miss Godesby. Your husband and yourself 
will do. 

Sterling. But both names are worthless. 

Miss Godesby. Not as a point of honor. 

Sterling. Ah ! no, not my wife's. 

Miss Godesby. Nor yours to me. Come along ! 

\She goes to the table with Sterling, and 
unfolding a paper gives it to him. He 
signs it. 



THE CLIMBERS 245 

Warden. [Aside to Blanche, apologizing for 
his presence.] She made me come — she wouldn't 
come alone ; otherwise I should have waited till 
you sent for me. 

Blanche. It's as well — I've decided. Oh, 
I wonder if I'm doing wrong. 

[Looking him straight in the face. 

Warden. [Looking back searchingly in hers 
to read the truths hut believing that she will cer- 
tainly leave her husband.] No, you can't do wrong ! 
But I must warn you of one thing — I'm not any 
longer the controlled man I was. 

Miss Godesby. Come along now, Mrs. Sterling, 
brace up and give me your name, and Warden, 
witness, please. [They do so.] Of course, my 
dears, I know perfectly well that legally this isn't 
worth the paper it's written on. [Exchanging a 
serious and meaning look with Warden.] But my 



246 THE CLIMBERS 

idiot of a brother won't realize that, which is the 
point. One thing more — will you both dine with 
me next week, Thursday? [There is an embarrassed 
pause J which J with quick intuition , she understands.] 
Yes, you will — for silence gives consent ! [Laugh- 
ing.] Now, that's settled! 

Sterling. What an awfully good sort you are ! 

Miss Godesby. Thanks, not always — I've 
been a mucker more than once in my life ! I must 
go [Shaking hands with Blanche.] and relieve 
Mr. Mason of my brother, or he'll be accusing me 
of inhuman treatment; more than one consecutive 
hour of my brother ought to be prevented by the 
poHce. 

Blanche. You are very, very good. 

Miss Godesby. I think if you and I can get 
well over this, we'll be real friends, and I haven't 
many, have you? 



THE CLIMBERS 247 

Blanche. \Takes her hand.] You can count 
upon me and my boy so long as we live. 

[She impulsively but tenderly kisses her. 
[Miss Godesby is very much surprised, hut 

moved. 

Miss Godesby. [Half laughing, half crying, and 

pulling her veil down to hide her emotion.] By 

George! I haven't been kissed by a woman for 

years ! Good-by. 

[Warden starts to go out with Miss Godesby. 

Blanche stops him. 
Blanche. Wait one moment — I want to speak 
alone to Miss Godesby. 

[Miss Godesby goes out Left. 
Blanche. [Aside to Sterling.] You tell him; 
I cannot. Tell him the truth. 

[She goes out ajter Miss Godesby. 
Warden. Dick. 



248 THE CLIMBERS 

Sterling. Ned? 

Warden. I have nothing to say to you, Ster- 
ling. 

[Warden looks away and whistles a tune to 

show his unwillingness to listen. Sterling 

speaks clearly so Warden shall hear. 

Sterling. I have a message for you from my 

wife. [There is a second'' s pause. Warden stops 

whistling and turns and looks at Sterling.] She 

asks me to explain — to tell — to tell you a 

decision she has come to. 

[There is another pause. 
Warden. Yes? 
[Anxious y at a supreme tension, and now a little 

alarmed as to the decision. 
Sterling. She has decided not to leave my house. 
Warden. [Adds.] Yet/ 
Sterling. Ever/ 



THE CLIMBERS 249 

Warden. \Losing his control.] That's a lie! 

Sterling. I couldn't believe it, either, when she 
told me. It was her first word to me to-day. I 
said, ''You are going to divorce me," and she 
answered, ''No." 

Warden. She's sacrificing herself for some 
reason — her boy ! 

Sterling. Never mind, she won't leave me; 
I have her promise, and I'll win back her love ! 

Warden. You fool ! You can't win her back ! 
She would never have loved me if you hadn't 
disillusioned, dishonored her! I'm not w^orthy of 
her, but I'll never dishonor her, and, please God, 
never disappoint her, and so I'll keep her love. 

Sterling. Well, as to that, she decides to stay, 
leaving love out of the question. 

Warden. And you'll accept that sacrifice! 
You don't even love her. You're only thinking 



250 



THE CLIMBERS 



of yourself now. Love, real love, forgets itself. 
You, after having spoilt half her life, are willing 
to spoil the rest, for your own sake! 

Sterling. No, for the boy's sake, and her 
sake — to save a scandal — the world — 

[Interrupted, 

Warden. [Beside himself.] Oh, damn the world ! 
It's heaven and hell you'd better think of. Scandal ! 
It couldn't harm her^ and the hurt it would do you 
is a small price to pay. Those whom God has 
joined — yes ! but it was the devil bound her to 
you ! 

Sterling. Here! I've had enough! Look 
out ! 

Warden. [Moves toward him.] You look out 
— you shan't rob her of her happiness. You — a 
drunkard! A forger! A thief! 

Sterling, Vd keep her now if only to spite you/ 



THE CLIMBERS 25 1 

Warden. Hah ! There spoke the true man in 
you ! Would to heaven the old days of duelling 
were back ! 

Sterling. A brave wish, as you know they're 
not! 

Warden. They fight in other countries still 
for their love and honor, and I'm ready here, now, 
if you are, with any weapons you choose ! 

[Sterling sneers.] 
Sneer ! But will you fight ? We'll find a place, 
and something to fight with, or fists if you'd 
rather! You wouldn't kill me before I'd got 
you out of her way for good. Will you fight? 

[Coming closer to him. 

Sterling. No! 

Warden. [Getting more and more enraged.] 
If you lose^ you go away, and set her free of your 
own will I 



252 THE CLIMBERS 

Sterling. No! 

Warden. [Losing entirely his self-control.] 
What do you want to make you fight — will that? 
[He gives him a stinging blow in the jace. 
Sterling. Yes! 

[He springs toward Warden as Ruth and 
Mason enter Left. The two men stand rigid, 
Warden breathing heavily. 
Ruth. Blanche, may I bring in — where's 
Blanche ? 
Sterling. I don't know. 
Mason. Good morning, gentlemen. 
[There is no response. Warden is ivith great 
difficulty restraining himself. His lips are 
compressed tightly and his hands clenched. 
Ruth. What's the trouble? 
Sterling. I have just told Warden my wife's 
decision not to leave me. 



THE CLIMBERS 253 

Ruth. [Showing her relief and satisjaction 
in her face, turns to Warden.] You won't try to 
shake that resolve? 

Warden. [Unable to control himself.] But I 
will ! I will — I tell you all ! I hardly know what 
I say or do ! But look out for me, I'm desperate ! 
I'm a torrent that's only let loose since yesterday, 
and now all of a sudden you try to stop me ! But 
it's too late ; I've got my impetus ; the repressed 
passion of years is behind me ; nothing can stop 
me — and God keep me from doing the wrong 
thing! I am determined to clear him out of the 
way of the happiness of the woman I love. [To 
Ruth.] Do you mean to say you approve of her 
decision? [Ruth turns her head; he turns to 
Mason.] Do you? 

Ruth. No. 

Sterling. [To Ruth, holding out his hand.] 



as4 THE CUMBERS 

Vou \\\\\ stand by nio. Aunt Ruth, ami ti\i;othcr 
wo — 

Rrni. [I f:t(-frnptifii^ and rc-jusini^ his luind.] 
Oh, no. 

SnuiiNT.. Pon't you think 1 can win hor love 
b;u k ? 

RiMti. No. 

SriKiiNT,. Won't you hc\\> mc try? 

Riru. No. It wouKl he useless. 

Wakpkn. C\Mne with nu^ to Hlanehe; I nuist 
speak with her. 

IWakpin ijf.il Rrni ^i' (';// Kii^ht. 

Mason. [Alofu- iriili Sn- klint..] do away 
and make your wife understand you are never 
CiMuini; baek. 

SriKiiNO. Hut the loneUness, the misery, away 
— alone. 



Mason, kill tlieni with hard Wi>rk j you hai*e 



THE CLIMBERS 255 

other heavy dcbts^ you know. I came to sec you 
about this business of your acknowledgments to 
Miss Godesby and Miss Hunter. 

Sterling. Later, later. To-morrow I will 
decide — 

[He motions him away. Mason goes to him and 
puts his hand on his shoulder. 

Mason. Decide well — 

[He hesitates a moment and then goes out Right. 

Sterling. [Watching him go.] There's not 
one soul in this world who cares for mc, and it's 
my own jaidt. [Richard is heard upstairs again 
singing "Once in Royal David's City.'' Sterling 
lijts his head and listens.] Yes, one little soul 
loves me, and it would be better for him, too, if I 
went away. I'll go to sleep and see how I feel 
about it when I wake up. [He moves the glass 0} 
water and takes out the box 0} tablets. He starts 



2S6 THE CLIMBERS 

suddoily, but very slightly, and Ills muscles tighten.] 
After all, why not end it all ninv, at once, without 
any more bother? [He looks in the box, and glan<:€s 
tipiquestioningly : then he remembers the fireplace 
where he threw tJie other tablets and looks across the 
room at the logs. He rises, goes over, a7id sees in the 
fireplace the tivisted envelope ivJiich holds the other 
tablets. He bends over to pick it up: he stops 
short.] No! Why shouldn't I try it, anyway? 
She, herself, gives me the chance ! [He rings the 
electric bell, and ivalking away jrom tJie fireplace, 
takes up with a trembling hand the papers lejt by 
Mason ; he ivipes the damp jrom his forehead with 
his haudkcrchiej. To Jordan, who enters Lejt.] 
Light the fire quickly; I feel cold. 

[He sinks into the arm-chair, weak jrom the 

tncntal strain. 
Leonard. It's very warm in the house, sir. 



THE CLIMBERS 257 

Sterling. Do as I tell you— light the fire. 
Leonard. [Lookmg jor matches on the mantel, 
finds the box empty.] There are no matches, sir; 
I must get one. 

Sterling. No, don't go — here — here — 
[He gives him a match from his own box. 
LiEONARD notices the trembling hand and sup- 
pressed excitement of Sterling, and involun- 
tarily glances up, but quickly looks back to his 
work and strikes a match. The match goes out. 
Leonard. I shall need another match, please, 
sir. 

Sterling. [With one in his fingers taken from 
his match-box, he alters his mind.] I have no more. 
[He puts away his match-box.] Never mind the 
fire ; get me a pint bottle of champagne. 

Leonard. [With a surreptitious side glance oj 
curiosity.] Very well, sir. 



258 THE CLIMBERS 

[He goes out Left. 
Sterling. That was funny; that was very 
funny! I wonder if it was accident, or if there's 
such a thing as fatahty. [He goes to the fireplace 
and picks up the twisted envelope.] If not now — 
perhaps some other time — who knows ? [He 
thrusts the envelope in his vest pocket, and takes up 
the papers again from the table to look over them.] 
I can't read these things! [Throwing them down.] 
The words mean nothing to me! 

[There is the sound outside of a cork being drawn. 
Leonard enters with the champagne and a 
glass and places them beside Sterling. 
Leonard. Shall I light the fire now, sir? 
Sterling. No, never mind now. 
Leonard. Yes, sir. 

[He goes out Left. 
[Sterling half fills the glass with champagne. 



THE CLIMBERS 259 

He takes out the box of tablets and counts 

aloud. 
Sterling. One, two, three, four — [He puts 
all in the glass, dropping them as he counts. He 
hesitates, then quickly drops in two more and drinks 
quickly. The glass is empty. He sits by the table 
thinking a moment, then takes a piece of paper 
and makes ready his stylo graphic pen.] Let me see ; 
can I make it seem accidental; it would be so 
much less bother and trouble for them ! [He 
thinks a second, then writes.] ''I have accidentally 
taken an overdose of my sleeping draught. I have 
tried to call some one, but it's no use. I ask only 
one thing, that you forget all my sins, wipe out 
their memory with my name. I want my boy to 
change his name, too." [He hesitates a moment , 
and then scratches that sentence heavily out.] No, 
I won't say that. [He waits a moment.] God in 



26o THE CLIMBERS 

heaven, what wouldn't I give for one friendly 
word just now ! Some one to sort of say good-by 
to me — take my hand — even a servant I 

[He looks about him, showing signs oj drowsiness. 
The door Right bursts open. Sterling 
quickly hides the letter in his inside pocket as 
Warden comes in. 
Warden. My hat! Where's my hat! 

[He looks about for it. 
Sterling. [Quietly.] Ned? 
Warden. My hat, I say! Where's my hat? 

[Looking. 
Sterling. Ned! 
[Something in his voice arrests Warden's 

attention. 
Warden. What? [He looks at him.] What's 
the matter — 
Sterling. Nothing — I'm half asleep, that's 



THE CLIMBERS 261 

all — the reaction — I'm worn out and I've changed 
my mind — 

Warden. How do you mean? 

Sterling. I'm going away for good — that's 
the best I can do ; I want you to forgive me — could 
you? What do you say? Forgive me for every- 
thing ! For the sake of the old schoolboy days — 

Warden. When are you going? 

Sterling. To-day. Will you say good-by to 
me and wish me well on my journey? 

Warden. \S peaks without sympathy. \ You can 
count on me always to help you in any way I can. 
You can still retrieve a good deal if you're strong 
enough. 

Sterling. I know what a beastly friend I've 
been, and yesterday was more than any man would 
stand, but forgive that, too, will you ? I've always 
been a bad lot! 



262 THE CLIMBERS 

Warden. \Goes to him and speaks, with the 
sympathy oj a man /or a child coming into his voice.] 
No, a weak lot ; that's been your ruin, Dickie. 
I'll see you again before you go. 

Sterling. No, I'm going to sleep as long as I 
can now, and I don't want any one to wake me up ; 
but when I do wake, I shall have other things to 
do. This is good-by. 

Warden. Well, good luck! [He starts to go. 
The two men look at each other, and finally Ster- 
ling gets the courage to hold out his hand. Warden 
hesitates a moment j then shakes it.] Good luck ! 

[He goes out Left. 
[Sterling, who has been growing more and more 
drowsy, as soon as he is alone^ goes with diffi- 
cult y to the door and locks it. He is so drowsy 
that he leans against the door jora moment; then 
he starts to go back to the table, but is unable to 



THE CLIMBERS 263 

get there and sinks on the sofa half way between 

the table and the door. His eyes close, but 

suddenly he starts violently and tries to rise, 

but cannot, crying out jaintly. 

Sterling. Good God — the money ! I forgot 

the money — who'll pay my debts? Ah, this is a 

fitting climax for my life — the weakest, dirtiest 

thing I've done — [He gets the letter jrom his 

pocket and holds it in his hand; the light oj the 

afternoon grows slowly dim, like his jading sight 

and senses. He murmurs twice in a jaint, drowsy 

voice.] Coward ! Coward ! 

[Blanche, in the hall outside Right, calls his 

name. 
Blanche. Dick ! 
[Sterling's body relaxes and sets. The letter 

drops from his lifeless hands. 
[Blanche enters with Ruth, followed by 



264 THE CLIMBERS 

Richard, who rides a stick with a horse^s 
head and wears a soldiers cap. 
Richard. Merry Christmas, father! 
Blanche. [Going toward the sofa.] Dick ! 
Richard. Merry Christmas, father! 
Blanche. Sh ! Father's asleep. 
[They steal back toward the other door when 

Warden enters Right. 
Warden. Oh, you arc here ! I went down into 
Ihc drawing room where I left you. 
Blanche. Sh I 
[She points to Sterling, wJio lies apparently 

asleep. They speak in lowered voices. 
Warden. Yes, 1 have a message for you 
from him. 

[Looking at Richard and Ruth. 
Ruth. [Who understand^.] Come, Richard, I 
haven't seen your tree yet. 



THE CLIMBERS 265 

\She goes out Right with Richard. 

Warden. [To Blanche.] Give me your hand. 
[She does so wonderingly. 

Warden. [Softly, with a man^s tenderness in 
his voice.] He is going away for good. 

Blanche. Away ? 

Warden. For good. 

Blanche. [Slowly, withdrawing her hand.] 
For good? [She looks over toward Sterling, and 
then back to Warden.] What does he mean? 

Warden. We will know when he wakes. 

THE CURTAIN STEALS SOFTLY DOWN 



REPRESENTATIVE PLAYS 

BY WELL-KNOWN PLAYWRIGHTS 



By MR. CLYDE FITCH 

Each 7SC. net (postage 6c.) 

The Climbers 

A keen satire on contemporary New York society, which 
explains its title thus : — 

"There are social climbers, but wealth is as good a goal. 
I was a climber after wealth and everything it brings." 

"And I after happiness and all it brings." — Act II. 

The Girl with the Green Eyes 

A study of the jealous temperament. The play is full 
of touches of a remarkable intuition, and the heroine's 
character is portrayed with rare delicacy. 

The Toast of the Town 

A comedy dealing with the life of an actress in the 
period of George IIL, and with the tragedy of middle age. 

Her Own Way and 

The Stubbornness of Geraldine 

are two original American plays, ingenious and novel in 
their employment of pictorial devices. These plays are 
funds of delightful sentiment, unhackneyed, piquant hu- 
mor, and minute observation. 

For the faithfulness of his chronicles of American life 
Mr. Fitch is to be ranked with Mr. Henry Arthur Jones in 
the English field, and with the best of the modern French 
dramatists on the Continent. 



THE MACMILLAN COIVIPANY 
64-66 Fifth Avenue, New York 



REPRESENTATIVE PLAYS 

BY WELL-KNOWN PLAYWRIGHTS 



By HENRY ARTHUR JONES 

Each 75c, net (postage 6c.) 

The Manoeuvres of Jane 

An Original Comedy in Four Acts. 

'• The occasional publication of a play by Henry Arthur 
Jones is a matter for congratulation. ... In 'The Ma- 
noeuvres of Jane ' we see Mr. Jones in his most sprightly 
mood and at the height of his ingenuity; ... its plot is 
plausible and comic, and its dialogue is witty." 

The Transcript (Boston). 

Mrs. Dane's Defence 

A Play in Four Acts. 

First produced in London by Sir Charles Wyndham. 
Margaret Anglin and Charles Richman scored a success 
in it in New York and elsewhere. 

The Whitewashing of Julia 

An Original Comedy in Three Acts and an Epilogue. 

Saints and Sinners 

An Original Drama of Modern English Middle-Class 
Life in Five Acts. 

The Crusaders 

An Original Comedy of Modern London Life. 

The Case of Rebellious Susan 

A Comedy in Three Acts. 

Carnac Sahib 

An Original Play in Four Acts. 

The Triumph of the Philistines 

Michael and His Lost Angel 

The Tempters 

The Liars The Masqueraders 



THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 
(34-66 Fifth Avenue, New York 



REPRESENTATIVE PLAYS 

BY WELL-KNOWN PLAYWRIGHTS 



By MR. WINSTON CHURCHILL 

The Title-Mart 

A live comedy of American life, turning on schemes of 
ambitious elders, through which love and the young folks 
follow their own sweet ways. 

Cloth, i6mo, 75c. net (postage 6c.) 



By PAUL HBYSE 
Freely translated by WILLIAM WINTER 

Mary of Magdala 

The English version used by Mrs. Fiske in New York 
and elsewhere. Cloth, ;^i.25 net 

By MR. WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS 
(Plays for an Irish Theatre) 

Where There is Nothing 

The Hour Glass and Other Plays 

Cloth, each j^i.25 net (postage 7c.) 

In the Seven Woods 

Cloth, i2mo, $1.00 net (postage 6c.) 

" Mr. Yeats' work is notable as supplying that rarest of 
all things — a distinctly new strain in English poetic and 
dramatic literature." — Miss KIatharine Lee Bates in 
the TranscriJ)^ (Boston). 



THE MACMILLAN COP</IPANY 

64-66 Fifth Avenue, New York 

3 



REPRESENTATIVE PLAYS 

BY WELL-KNOWN PLAYWRIGHTS 



By MR. THOMAS HARDY 

The Dynasts 

A Drama of the Napoleonic Wars. In three parts. 

Part I., i2mo, cloth, $i.^o net 



By MR, STEPHEN PHILLIPS 

Cloth, each $1.25 net (postage 8c.) 

The Sin of David 

The theme is indicated by the title, but the time of the 
play is that of Cromwell, and runs its course during the 
English civil war. 

Ulysses 

A dramatic success in both London and New York, first 
presented in a marvellous stage-setting by Beerbohm Tree, 
and pronounced " the most strikingly imaginative produc- 
tion the present generation has witnessed." 



By MR. PERCY W. MACKAYB 
Cloth, each $1.25 net (postage 7c.) 
FenriS the Wolf A Tragedy. 
The Canterbury Pilgrims 

" A rollicking Httle farce-comedy, with lyrics inter- 
spersed." — Churchman. 



By MR. LAURENCE HOUSMAN 

Bethlehem 

A Nativity Play. Performed with Music by Joseph 
MooRAT, under the Stage Direction of Edward Gordon 
Craig, December, MCiMII. 

Cloth, i2mo, J^i.25 net (postage 7c.) 



THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 

64-66 Fifth Avenue, New York 

4 



N 13 89 



'y •;,^'. -^ 



V • ^ el ^ *^ 



's^',- 






^ /^«?;'. ^.a" /Jfe- \„./ .»^§ffi". %. 















fb'"^^"/ %'?^\o«^ \*"-'*\<^,. 






Jl\ ^^. C 



*»^_ -l*^ ^ii 





















^** **^% viP/ /'X "o^W^*- ^^''-^^^ 



o "i^^^^ . 






". '^'^o^ : 



